Residents encouraged to comment on tariff hikes proposal
The proposal stands at 6.9 per cent for electricity and rates with water, sewage and refuse at a 9.9 per cent to services rendered.
AMID job uncertainties and economic instability, residents can expect another financial hurdle, in the form of a proposed tariffs increase, thrown at them.
The budget draft for the financial year 2020/21 is currently open for public comment and residents are encouraged to have their say.
Residents have until Friday, 8 May to comment on the suggested utilities draft.
The proposal, which currently stands at 6.9 per cent for electricity and rates with water, sewage and refuse at a 9.9 per cent to services rendered, is available online.
Bluff Ratepayers Association (BRA) chairperson, Ivor Aylward said politicians need to stand up for what they stood for in getting into politics as a real difference is needed in the country.
“I am very disappointed in our leadership. To put it out to people that you want to increase their tariffs is unacceptable.”
“At the moment, all South Africans have fallen on hard times due to the lockdown.”
“We’re going to experience even more heartbreak now going into May, as a lot of people haven’t been working and have been surviving on their March and April salaries, if they haven’t used them up already.”
“How do they expect us to pay an increase on our electricity and water rates? They should instead reduce these rates due to the hardship. How do we justify this?” questioned Bluff Ratepayers Association (BRA) chairperson, Ivor Aylward.
Reacting to the news, ward 66 councillor and the Democratic Alliance’s whip for the economic development and planning committee, JP Prinsloo said his political party strongly objected to the city’s intention of hiking prices for basic municipal services.
“As the DA, we have proposed that the entire budget for the coming year be re-worked in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes a reduction of the tariffs.”
“We will not support these tariff hikes and believe eThekwini must do more to provide relief for consumers and businesses,” he said.
He said council will vote on the budget at the end of May and that they are conducting a business survey to collate input from affected business owners across the city.
Business owners wanting to be represented can fill in a short survey by visiting https://bit.ly/EconomicRecoverySurvey.
Click on the hyperlinks to access the full draft document, or to read more about the proposals penned by DA leader in eThekwini, Nicole Graham.
Comments or objections to the draft budget can be e-mailed to info@durban.gov.za or constance.mwelase@durban.gov.za by Friday, 8 May.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. For any comments or queries, contact the National Group Editor, Irma Green at irma@caxton.co.za or the Legal Adviser, Helene Eloff at helene@caxton.co.za.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, 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.
To receive our free newsletter click here
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
