The reality is: the water tariff went up by 30%

Sir,
Water is the most basic essential for life, and one would expect the Umzinyathi District Municipality to ensure it is the most affordable resource for the residents in the district.
Clearly this is not the concern of the Council, which raised the water price by more than 30%, while the national guidelines are to raise water tariffs in line with the rate of inflation.
The Umzinyathi Council achieved this astronomical increase through devious means in three disingenuous steps:
1. Firstly, by introducing the maximum charge at a lower consumption level. Prior to July the maximum charge for water consumption kicked in at 60 kilolitres, but now comes into effect once consumption reaches 40 kilolitres. The worst-hit consumers are those who live in blocks of flats, school hostels, residential complexes and B&B establishments that have one or two water meters, providing water to multiple residences. Families and residents of these complexes now pay for water at the maximum rate despite their individual consumption recorded at between six and 20 kilolitres per month. Other victims of this unjust and unreasonable water tariff increase are businesses that are high consumers of water. But these increases to the business community will be passed on to the consumers – you and I – who will pay more at their tills.
2. Secondly, to add insult to injury, the Umzinyathi Council, in their wisdom, raised the water tariff by 12,15% over and above the introduction of the maximum charge above 40 kilolitres’ water consumption, whereas it came into effect at 60 kilolitres prior to July 2014.
3. Thirdly, the cherry on the top of this blatant administrative injustice is the removal of the six free kilolitres of water across the board by a stroke of the pen. Individuals now have to apply for indigent status, and, once granted, can apply for the free six kilolitres per month – of course, the devil is in the detail, in that what are the criteria for indigent status, and how this will be administered? Not a single councillor raised their concerns at these unreasonable water tariff increases of more than 30%. Maybe they are so well-reimbursed from our rates they do not feel the added pressure of unaffordable water. Water consumers – all residents – need to challenge this irrational bureaucratic abuse of power.
Not fooled.