Province runs up big debt to Cape Town
The Western Cape government owes its biggest municipality, the City of Cape Town, millions of rand. A report to the city council's finance committee said the municipality was owed more than R4.4-billion by residents, businesses and government departments.The biggest offender at the provincial administration is the Department of Education, which owes more than R20-million.The Department of Health owes R9-million and the Department of Human Settlements R3-million.Mayoral committee member for finance Ian Neilson said that since he joined the finance committee nine years ago, the national and provincial governments had been the biggest defaulters."We have made very good progress over the years (but) there has been a problem with the education department [provincial]; schools are not paying their service accounts," said Neilson.ANC councillor Luvuyo Zondani accused DA councillors on the finance committee of trying to sweep the debt under the carpet."I am concerned about the DA-led provincial department of education which does not want to pay," said Zondani.This story was updated to correct billions to millions in the first paragraph...
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