Is Umgeni Water another Eskom?

The news of a 41.1% water hike by Umgeni Water in the Courier of March 20 refers. The first thing that comes to mind is that Umgeni Water is another Eskom.
With that goes top management suspensions, R1m bonuses, incompetence, no skilled workers, load shedding, run down economy and a junk status credit rating.
Last year’s increase was 11% – double the inflation rate. Umgeni Water says it needs the money to pay for infrastructure development. The development should be financed from the extra water sales from these developments. Where is the three, five or 10 year plan, or is there no forward thinking?
There is no proof that we are “rich” or “an affluent area” or “can afford it” anymore. Our personal tax basis is only about R1 million. Our biggest export in the past 20 years has been taxpayers who could afford to move elsewhere. The era of the sugar baron is long gone. Sugar mills and even a paper mill have closed down. Other mills are struggling to keep their heads above water. Ballito holiday resort has been spoilt by too rapid developments and now a dormitory of Greater Durban.
A pocket of excellence is our Siza Water which is part of the Singapore-owned Semborp Group. They are world-renowned for their water purification and do it for surrounding countries at a fraction of what it would cost the countries themselves. Semborp run a tight ship, giving excellent service to the people and even end with a profit.
Property valuations have been increased, which means extra rates from July 1. The tax-paying population is a finite resource and sooner or later will come to and end.
FRANK DU TOIT
Ballito