eThekwini announces tariff increases

ETHEKWINI Municipality recently announced its annual tariff increases for rates, electricity, water and sanitation. At a full council meeting at the City Hall in Durban, Mayor, Zandile Gumede, said the city made every effort to cushion the ratepayers and customers under the current state of the economy.

According to the city, the rates increase of 6.9 per cent is about the lowest in the country, when compared to Johannesburg’s 11.7 per cent and Cape Town averaging about 9 per cent revaluing of properties. The electricity tariff increases of 13.07 per cent are an indicative increase due to the 15.69 per cent increase expected from Eskom. However, should the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) further review the Eskom increase, the municipality will also review the tariffs.

Water tariff increase of 15 per cent for domestic consumers and 15.5 per cent for business are based on the Umgeni Water Board increase of 9.6 per cent and takes into account the additional capital expenditure on water in terms of the rollout of the Western Aqueduct, huge urbanisation increase trends, provision of ablution facilities, as well as free basic water.

“The sewer tariff was contained to 9.9 per cent despite similar challenges to water in terms of increased service delivery demands, capital expenditure, ablution blocks and additional servicing of pit latrines. The 9.9 per cent refuse tariff increase is due to additional areas being serviced, additional cleaning of the beachfront, CBD, and townships, and hence the increase above consumer price index could not be avoided,” said eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela.

However, a recent Facebook survey poll indicated that 100 per cent of Southlands Sun readers who took the survey were not happy with the increases.

While the municipality said it did all it could to cut costs, Bluff Rate Payers Association Chairman, Ivor Aylward questioned whether a grassroots level survey was done before the tariffs were proposed. “Lets start with VAT. Every one who spends money already pays 15 per cent VAT on goods, and now we have these other five tariff hikes and the petrol situation. Its a shocker and a disgrace to any hard working man or woman trying to bring up a family, and trying to make ends meet mouth to mouth,” he said.

Aylward added that these kinds of decisions can cripple the country and questioned if young people would afford to purchase houses at the rate things are going. “One can ask the question why has this happened, is it because our municipality is run badly?”

Ward 66 councillor, JP Prinsloo, said while he understands the need for annual tariff hikes, residents cannot be held liable for the poor management of the city. “Tariff increases are not a new phenomenon but the proposed increases are. Cities must increase tariffs proportionately to keep up with increasing costs and demands. However, the increases this year are far above inflation. It is yet another attempt by the city to extort its residents to supplement the severe corruption, maladministration and wasteful expenditure currently experienced within the city,” he said.

“We rejected the enormous tariff increases proposed by the city in the strongest terms. We called on all residents to sign a petition to reject the city’s proposal and saw more than 7500 residents sign the petition. Communities should start standing up and rejecting proposals that would make their lives even more difficult in the current economic climate,” added Prinsloo.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)