For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: National budget cuts leave City of Cape Town R107m out of pocket for housing projects; Political parties slam Godongwana’s Medium-Term Budget; And, Siya Kolisi urges government to use South Africa's diversity for change

National budget cuts leave City of Cape Town R107m out of pocket for housing projects

National budget cuts mean the City of Cape Town's housing projects will have to go without more than R107-million in government funding.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the budget cuts announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his medium-term budget policy statement would have "far-reaching consequences for local government".

Hill-Lewis said the cuts amount to over R107-million for Cape Town's human settlements grants in 2023/24 alone.

He added that the "national cuts make [the City's] task all the more difficult", especially as Cape Town's population continues to grow.

Recent census data showed that Cape Town is on track to become South Africa's most populous city, now with just 100 000 residents fewer than Johannesburg.

Political parties slam Godongwana’s Medium-Term Budget

Yesterday’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement given by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was met with collective disapproval from some political parties, who have bemoaned the potential effects of slashed government spending on consumers amid a high cost of living crisis coupled with crime, unemployment and energy insecurity. 

In his speech, Godongwana highlighted National Treasury’s agenda of stabilising public finances by prioritising reforms aimed at enhancing the growth of the gross domestic product over the next three years. 

The Democratic Alliance noted that the Budget Statement was indicative of the ruling party’s inability to accelerate economic growth but commended plans to accelerate private-public partnerships to rebuild the country’s collapsing infrastructure.

Further, the party believes the budget statement could have better considered the plight of consumers through the reduction of taxes and fuel levies.  

The Economic Freedom Fighters highlighted the broader social implications of the proposed spending cuts.

The party rejects the proposed cuts of direct provincial conditional grants of R6.2-billion, which include the conditional grant of poverty relief and infrastructure development, early childhood development grant, education infrastructure grant, and other grants meant for much-needed social infrastructure.

GOOD, meanwhile, has cautioned National Treasury against an over-reliance on the private sector as it contends that this could deepen inequality and exclusion. 

GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron explained that South Africa must ensure that its financial and economic policies and plans are coherent, and implemented, or its reliance on the private sector will not deliver the hoped-for goods.

And, Siya Kolisi urges government to use South Africa's diversity for change

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi today told President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country needs to use its diversity a bit more, as he described it as a powerful force in working towards fulfilling the South African dream.

The beloved sports team kicked off its trophy tour from the Unions Buildings, in Pretoria following its record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup in France.  

Addressing supporters at the Union Buildings, Kolisi said the Springboks were grateful for the support they received from Ramaphosa and from all South Africans, during the World Cup tournament.

Addressing Ramaphosa, Kolisi said diversity could be used to South Africa’s advantage in Parliament.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform using the handle @PolityZA