DESPITE the reduction in proposed tariff hikes by the eThekwini Municipality, some residents and ratepayer associations say the increases remain unjustified amid ongoing service delivery failures in several communities.

The municipality had initially proposed tariff increases of 10.5% for electricity, 15% for domestic water, 16% for non-domestic water and 13% for domestic sanitation.

Although the revised increases were reduced, community organisations argue that residents are still being expected to pay more while experiencing deteriorating municipal services.

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Spokesperson for the Clairwood Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA), Ravin Brijlal, said the association welcomed the reduced tariffs but remained concerned about the financial burden on ordinary residents.

“While lower than originally proposed, these increases still place additional strain on households already struggling with poor service delivery in areas like Clairwood,” said Brijlal.

Residents raise concerns about lack of service delivery

He added that residents expected improved accountability and visible service delivery improvements from the municipality.

“We call on the eThekwini Municipality to match every tariff increase with visible improvements and to hold polluters accountable instead of making residents pay for their negligence,” he said.

Chairperson of the Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association, Allison Schoeman, said tariff increases should not be implemented while infrastructure and service delivery challenges continue to worsen on The Bluff.

Continued water leak on The Bluff

Schoeman highlighted an unresolved water leak on Bluff Road as an example of what residents describe as inadequate municipal response times.

“Residents are once again being confronted with visible proof of a failing municipal administration. There is a major unresolved water burst at 378 Bluff Road,” she said.

According to Schoeman, the leak was reported approximately two weeks ago and was formally escalated on May 27 after no repair teams had arrived on site.

She further raised concerns over the municipality’s ongoing water-loss crisis, citing reports indicating that hundreds of millions of litres of treated water are lost daily through leaks, ageing infrastructure and maintenance failures.

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“The issue at Bluff Road is not an isolated complaint. It is a practical example of a broader problem. Residents are not refusing to contribute to a functional City, but they are objecting to carrying the cost of negligent administration,” she said.

She added that residents and businesses were increasingly expected to absorb the financial impact of infrastructure failures through higher tariffs and declining service delivery standards.

Schoeman warned that delays in repairing major leaks contribute to road damage, water wastage and escalating maintenance costs, while further eroding public confidence in the municipality.

She said discussions around tariff increases should be accompanied by urgent interventions to address operational inefficiencies and infrastructure deterioration across affected communities.

The municipality was proposing tariff increases of:

• 10.5% for electricity

• 15% for domestic water

• 16% for non-domestic water

• 13% for domestic sanitation

• 14% for non-domestic sanitation

• 13% for refuse removal

The new recently reduced tariffs are as follows:

• 9% for electricity

• 12% for domestic water

• 13% for non-domestic water

• 8% for domestic sanitation

• 9% for non-domestic sanitation

• 9.5% for refuse removal

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