Rasool Welcomes Cape Town Budget

He said: "The Mayor has given us a budget with which we can win this (next municipal) election."

He was speaking at a Press conference convened by Mayor Mfeketo, Premier Rasool said that he had not had time to study the budget.

But he added: "I'm encouraged that the increases in tariffs are affordable and compare very favourably with the rest of the country."

He said that budget was very balanced and "better than any budget presented before in the City of Cape Town".

Premier Rasool said that the N2 Gateway, a massive partnership between national, provincial and local government to provide housing for 22 000 families in Cape Town, would bring greater stability to the city.

"The social pathology of Cape Town is changing, " he said.