KwaDukuza has approved a R3.5-billion budget, with residents facing average increases of 6.66% from July 1.

The budget, supported by all parties except the DA and ActionSA, includes electricity increases of between 9% and 11%, a 7% increase in refuse charges and a 3% increase in property rates. The proposed property rates increase was reduced from 6% before the budget was adopted.

Tabling the budget, mayor Sduduzo Gumede reflected on the current council’s five-year term ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

He said his primary goal since taking office nine months ago had been to provide stability and urged councillors across party lines to continue working together.

Gumede described KwaDukuza as a destination for investment and said municipal infrastructure spending had helped drive growth. He also acknowledged the Section 106 investigation that resulted in the suspension of three senior officials, as well as ongoing investigations by the Special Investigating Unit and Hawks.

“The theme for the 2026/27 financial year has been declared as ‘The year of deepening action to fix, while delivering on commitments to the people’,” he said.
Announcing the ANC’s support for the budget, councillor Njabulo Cele described it as “reliable, funded and realistic.”

DA caucus leader Privi Makhan rejected the budget, arguing that it was unaffordable.
“Life is about to get harder for residents. If we are paying more every year, why are we getting less?” she said.

ActionSA caucus leader Nel Sewraj also opposed the budget, saying tough cuts should have been made.
“This budget puts our future security at risk by raiding funding reserves, while taking on new debt and counting on a rates jackpot that seems highly unlikely,” he said.