Taxpayers are on their last legs.
While the looting continues and municipal services weaken, they are being taxed more and more.
Municipal workers are currently illegally striking in Middelburg, and there is no service delivery.
Angry residents take out their frustration on councillors, who can do nothing because it is a municipal staff issue.
And while taxpayers are not getting any services, they have to pay about 11% more for services from yesterday (Wednesday).
Since 1994, the tax burden has been crippling
There were free state hospitals – now private medical care is paid for at the highest price.
There was an effective police force – now security is paid for at the highest price.
Roads were maintained – now motorists’ pockets are being shaken at toll gates.
Water quality has deteriorated – water is now being purchased instead, and every second house has a JoJo Tank.
Millions of rands have been spent on solar and generators due to an unreliable electricity grid.
And yesterday, municipalities implemented new tariffs for the 2026/27 financial year.
Every resident and business will feel the impact.
NERSA approved a 9.01% average increase in Eskom’s bulk electricity tariffs supplied to municipalities from 1 July.
Municipalities then add their own costs.
Cape Town
Electricity: 6.67%
Water: 4.5%
Sanitation: 4.5%
Refuse: 3.75%
Property rates reduced for many residential properties.
Johannesburg
Electricity: 8.63%
Water: 12.5%
Sanitation: 11%
Refusal: 6.2%
Property rates: 3.6%
Tshwane
Electricity: 8.8%
Water: 10%
Sanitation: 5%
Refuse: 4.1%
Property rates: 5%
Middelburg
Electricity 11.7%
Water 4%.
Sanitation 5%.
Refuse 4%.
Property rates 3.4%.
In the past four years, there has been an increase in Middelburg in:
Growing wage bills.
Infrastructure neglect.
Electricity theft.
Ageing infrastructure.
Illegal connections.
Water discharges.
Poor revenue collection.
And who carries the burden?
The people paying their municipal accounts every month.
And here is the most shocking part.
For May, total salaries, allowances, and benefits paid to managers and municipal staff amount to R74.6m. The year-to-date actually amounts to R798.1m.
And those millions are paid by you, the taxpayer.
