HUNDREDS of ratepayers and residents across eThekwini painted the streets in diverse colours on Wednesday (May 20), raising their voices against the eThekwini Municipality’s proposed double-digit tariff increases as part of the R70b budget purse.

The march, organised by eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), garnered support from various political parties, including Freedom Front, Action SA, Minority Front, EFF, ACDP, Umkhonto WeSizwe Party, Afrika Mayibuye, and other ratepayers’ formations.

ERPM chairperson Asad Gaffar described the City’s budget as “incomplete and not pro-poor”.

“We reject the City’s draft budget with contempt. It affects all citizens, businesses, ratepayers, and residents, and we propose that the budget be sent back for review. It is not acceptable.”

Prior to the demonstration, ERPM met with eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba regarding the proposed tariff increases and the draft budget, which is open for public comment.

“ERPM entered the meeting in good faith, hopeful that common ground could be reached and that the march could be averted. Regrettably, the meeting concluded in a stalemate, with no resolution reached on any substantive matter,” said Gaffar.

City tables R70b draft budget amid opposition concerns

On the movement’s memorandum, apart from double-digit increases, it highlighted service delivery woes, poor governance, infrastructure collapse, water losses, lack of financial accountability, and the overall deterioration of basic municipal functions.

Gaffar concluded that should the City fail to meet their demands, as per the memorandum, the ERPM and its partners would escalate to rolling mass action.

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