A SMALL group of dedicated ratepayers assembled on April 5 at the Sizakala Centre in Winklespruit in quiet demonstration of their dissatisfaction following the release of eThekwini Municipality’s 2025 budget.

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The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement called the budget a ‘shameful spectacle of self-indulgence’ in a recent statement. It said, “We reject this budget and call on every resident and ratepayer to demand accountability, transparency and financial sanity from this administration. The city’s financial management is collapsing, cash reserves are falling, collection rates are low, yet reckless spending continues. This is governance by gimmick, not by principle. Instead of addressing the growing crisis in infrastructure, governance and basic service delivery, the Municipality has opted to splurge hundreds of millions on luxury events, destination marketing and frivolous conferences.”

The budget proposes significant tariff hikes: electricity (12.72%), water (15%), sanitation (13%) and refuse (9.9%).

Sunil Dutt Ramadhar, spokesperson of the Isipingo Ratepayers Association, said, “The reason that I have attended this protest is because we are dissatisfied with the tariff increases imposed by the Municipality. Due to the economic crises, people would not afford to pay these increases. We are calling for massive public participation, let every rate-paying resident be aware of the tariff increase. That is the only way we can resolve issues around the Municipality and hold them accountable for what is transpiring. There will be more meetings and mass action taking place; we would like the Municipality to listen to us. If not, we will have to boycott rates throughout eThekwini.”

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