Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance has used its majority in the City of Cape Town council to push through a controversial drought levy which will see Capetonians coughing up more money for water according to the value of their properties.
Mayor Patricia de Lille said the levy, which will kick off in February next year and remain in place until 2021, will assist the City fund new water projects.
“In future years the drought charge would be required to raise funding of approximately R1bn per year while the dams recover from the unprecedented drought conditions,” said De Lille.
Opposition parties have however accused De Lille of failing to prioritise the water crisis in the city.
African Christian Democratic Party councillor Grant Haskin said: “We know that the drought was foreseeable and avoidable. South African Weather Services confirmed that expected rainfall in Cape Town was worse in the 90s and early 2000.
“If the City had taken the water crisis seriously, we wouldn’t be here trying to adjust the budget for the first time in the City of Cape Town,” said Haskin.