Dear CDRA members, ratepayers and business owners of Cathkin Park

Re: Municipal Budget Presentation for 2024/2025. 

On the 3 May 2024 I represented the CDRA in attending and presenting to the Municipality at their annual Budget presentation for 2025. We have formed a budget sub committee that will work with the financial department of the municipality, so that going forward, we are more prepared for the budget each year. The municipality have agreed to meet with the sub committee monthly to improve engagements and reach our goals. 

The mood of the entire meeting was very positive, and one that  showed a willingness to work together with the CDRA to achieve common goals. The professionalism and attitude of the Municipality was succinctly summed up by Stuart Longmore from The Nest Hotel, who hosted the meeting, when in his closing comments, thanked the entire Municipal Council for their professionalism and total commitment to opening direct lines of communication through the planning of regular meetings with members of the CDRA. 

The CDRA’s main objective was to have the two municipal buildings at the Waste Site refurbished and allocated to the CDRA to be used to service the needs of the Cathkin Park ratepayers. We have suggested a community meeting office, information centre/ tourism office, health clinic, safety and security centre together with emergency and fire services. They were very open for us to pursue the discussion at the next monthly meeting with them. They have agreed to do an inspection of the buildings and are willing to accommodate our suggestions. 

The budget presentation was very poorly attended by the residents and ratepayers, with only nine members in the audience. We, as a community, need to consider attending vital engagements like these to voice our opinions and needs for our community. By avoiding such meetings we lose our ability to engage meaningfully and effectively, in order to bring about the changes we need. 

I would like to thank the Honorable Mayor, Mr V. R. Mlotshwa, the Municipal Manager, Mr S. N. Malinga and the Council for their time and effort in presenting the budget to us, and their willingness to work with us to create meaningful change in Cathkin Park. 

The Chairman’s Budget Report, which was submitted to the Municipality prior to the meeting, is available on the CDRA website at www.CDRA.co.za 

Thank you, 

Kat Dowling