Merafong residents to face higher water, electricity and municipal service costs
Residents in Merafong will pay more for water, electricity, sewerage, refuse removal and property rates from 1 July after the municipality approved its 2026/27 budget, despite opposition from several political parties.
Residents will have to pay much more for services according to the Merafong City Local Municipality’s new budget.
The new budget will take effect at the start of the new municipal financial year on July 1.
According to the new budget, which was approved during a virtual council meeting on May 27, the price of water services will increase by 11.50%, while electricity rates will increase by 9%.
The price of sewerage services will increase by 9.01%, while that of refuse removal will increase by 3.7%.
Property rates for mines will increase by 3.7%, while a 2% increase will take effect for property rates of residential homes as well as commercial, industrial, and other properties.
The total projected revenue for the coming financial year amounts to R3.048b, with projected expenditure of R3.006b. The municipality plans to spend R157.8m on capital projects. Its biggest expense is employee-related costs, for which R465.1m has been budgeted for the coming year.
The DA, FF Plus, and Merafong Agents of Change noted their opposition to the new budget.
