Residents and local businesses are feeling the heavy-handed authoritative whip of Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM). Councillor Peter Verbeek for Ward 10 made it clear that the DA condemns the proposed tariff increases in ELM.

The Draft Annual Budget for 2021/2022 will be released to the public for public participation.

The following increases in tariffs are suggested by  the Emfuleni Local Municipality:

Property Rates: 5.9%

Water and Sanitation: 7.8%

Electricity: 16%

Waste Management: 5.9%

Other services: 5.9%

The current Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 3.9%.

“Emfuleni Municipality is negating the impact of COVID-19 and the various lockdown levels on both residents and businesses. Residents have to deal with reduced income levels and some have even lost their employment. Businesses are experiencing shrinking markets. All in all this has seen an increase in both poverty and unemployment levels. It is unimaginable that the Emfuleni Municipality is contemplating tariff increases when property rates are seemingly on the decline. Water infrastructural losses are half the monthly Rand Water bill to the municipality with more and more areas experiencing either no water, or low water pressure,” says Verbeek.

He highlighted the fact that due to load shedding and an imploding electricity infrastructure, residents are consuming less electricity but now need to pay more. 

“Waste collection is hardly taking place leaving open public spaces the new norm as to illegal dumping. Sewerage takes months to attend to. Let’s suggest changes to the present expenditure instead of asking for more money! The Democratic Alliance in Emfuleni is distancing itself from this Emfuleni Draft Annual Budget 2021/2022”.

The Democratic Alliance in Emfuleni is suggesting the following:

1) 0% tariff increase for the next financial year;

2) The implementation of a PPP concept: “Public-Private-Partnership” between local communities, local businesses and the municipality in areas such as local electricity sub-stations, street green electricity boxes, grass cutting, streetlights and potholes etc; 3) 46 000 pre-paid electricity meters are NOT buying electricity per month. These need to be billed and included in electricity revenue collection;

4) Substantial increases in the maintenance of our infrastructure as well as substantial increases in upgrading our municipal infrastructure.  

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