Swartland Mayor delivers a budget focused on growth and affordable service delivery in a challenging economic climate
Executive Mayor, Alderman Harold Cleophas, today (28 May 2026) tabled the new budget for the next three financial years. This final Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) was approved by a majority vote in Council.
Upon presenting the budget, Mayor Cleophas said that this budget speaks directly to the realities faced by the residents of Swartland.
“Against the difficult backdrop of the struggling South African economy and the impacts of international geopolitical instability, Swartland Municipality had to make responsible, balanced and often difficult decisions. This budget reflects a conscious decision: To place our residents first,” said Mayor Cleophas.
The total capital budget for the new 2026/2027 financial year is approximately R250.5 million. Over the next three years, Swartland Municipality will make a capital investment of approximately R888.4 million. This investment will focus heavily on infrastructure and represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure investment programmes undertaken by this municipality.
While news headlines in South Africa often reflect failing municipal infrastructure and services, Swartland is budgeting to deliver tangible and significant outcomes.
Infrastructure remains the foundation of economic growth, service delivery, and investment attraction. Every rand invested in roads, water, electricity, and sanitation is an investment in dignity, growth, and future opportunities.
Over the next three years Swartland will:
In the new 2026/2027 financial year Swartland will also invest R7.4 million in the upgrading of sport facilities and will continue to focus on investment in electrical infrastructure, as well as infrastructure that enables housing opportunities.
To ensure sustainable development potential for the region over the longer term, Swartland will invest R550 million in upgrading the capacity of the Swartland WWTW 27 megalitres to 40 megalitres per day, as well as upgrading the bulk water pipelines between the treatment works and the Kasteelberg Reservoirs.
“One of the most difficult aspects of this budget was managing the rising cost of delivering services while attempting to keep tariffs affordable for residents. South Africans are under severe pressure, and operational costs continue to rise more quickly than revenues within the municipality. Fuel prices, electricity bulk purchases, water infrastructure requirements, landfill compliance costs and salary-related expenditure continue to place pressure on municipal budgets,” said Mayor Cleophas.
During the budgeting process every effort was made to keep services as affordable as possible for residents, with the following increases being unavoidable:
“We worked especially hard to reduce the electricity tariff from the initial 11.44% increase that was proposed in the draft budget to the final tariff of between 8.26% and 8.37%. This is a significant saving for residents,” said Mayor Cleophas.
Swartland continues to care for vulnerable residents and indigent households. This budget provides for:
The Municipality currently has 9 255 registered indigent households. The income threshold for indigent households in this budget has been increased from R4 515 to R5 280.
Community safety remains the number one priority for residents. To accomplish this, the budget provides for two new vehicles for the law enforcement and traffic services department to improve visibility and response times in communities such as Riebeek Valley and throughout the southern areas from Abbotsdale to Riverlands.
In addition, the budget makes provision for the purchase of the fire station in Malmesbury from the West Coast District Municipality, which will further strengthen local control and co-ordination of emergency services.
This budget not only acknowledges the economic hardships faced by Swartland residents, but it also focuses on the future. It invests in creating new infrastructure, maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure and, through that, making economic growth and investment possible.
In his concluding remarks, Mayor Cleophas said: “I want to thank our residents for their continued support and contributions they make despite the challenges they face. This budget acknowledges the economic hardships they face. It protects financial sustainability, and it continues to invest in the infrastructure required to support growth and development in Swartland.
The choices we make today will shape the future of our municipality for many years to come. Swartland remains committed to building a financially resilient municipality that delivers quality services, supports investment and growth, and serves our residents with integrity, accountability and excellence.”
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