He confirmed that property rates will increase by 4.8%, electricity by 8.61%, and refuse, including sewage and sanitation, will rise by 4.8%. The total operating expenditure is R1.472 billion, this includes employee costs which make up R404 million, and bulk purchases of R456 million. The total approved budget is R1.677 billion.

Molapisane also referred to the bad state of the roads. “We acknowledge that the roads require urgent attention and regular maintenance and we have budgeted R20 million for maintenance and stormwater pipes. “We are also aware that the budget is too little, even if it was R200 million it would not be enough. However the fixing has to be done,” he said.

Also read: GTM budgets R1.6 billion for 2022/2023

He also promised repairing the ageing electricity infrastructure, especially in the Haenertsburg area. Other projects include building sports complexes, paving internal streets, libraries, and household electrification throughout the region. During the SOMA, the mayor, who took over in November last year, touched on what has been achieved in the last six months.

He said he had met with traditional leaders, and agricultural and community leaders, engaged with bereaving families and gender-based violence (GBV) victims, held an anti-corruption workshop and had a series of meetings with developers in Tzaneen, including the McDonalds outlet that is currently under construction.

Break-down of new basic tariffs residents will have to pay

Solid waste tariffs
The solid waste tariffs have increased in all sectors. Basic waste charges for urban and non-urban residential premises (kerbside once a week) will increase from R150,91 to R158,15. The basic waste charge for businesses (per unit of 85 litres six times per week) will increase from R503,02 to R527,14 and the basic waste charge for industrial premises (85 litres per unit) three times per week will increase from R402,42 to R421,74.

Other GTM customers who require waste removal six times a week from kerbside (per unit of 85 litres), will increase from R477,73 to R500,66.

Water supply tariffs
Basic charges for households will increase from R38,55 to R40,40; businesses and industrial companies will increase from R60,89 to R63,81; government departments and Transnet will increase from R103,53 to R108,50; flats will increase from R62,92 to R65,94 and education will increase from R48,73 to R51,07.

Electricity tariffs
For single-phase (230V) with a capacity not exceeding 16kVA and three-phase (400V) with the capacity not exceeding 75 kVA (for medium to high consumption customers), a consumption charge of R1,8883 for both will be applicable; agriculture and households three-phase will cost R1,9717 per kWh and single-phase R2,3806 per kWh.

Fixed charges, whether electricity is consumed or not per point of supply are: 16 kVA single phase 70 Amp for domestic and agriculture will cost R 566.20. The business will cost R1 911.33, 25 kVA. Three-phase 45 Amp domestic and agriculture will cost R2 253.29 and businesses R2 214.55, 50 kVA. Three-phase 80 Amp domestic and agriculture will cost R2 987.35 and businesses R2 615.33, 75 kVA. Three-phase 100 Amp domestic and agriculture will be R4 154.86 and businesses R3 874.58.