Salga KZN rejects proposed water tariff increase

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in KwaZulu-Natal has firmly rejected Umgeni-uThukela Water’s proposed bulk water tariff increase of 13.5% for the 2025/26 financial year.

Salga issued a statement on Friday calling on the Minister for Water Affairs, Pemmy Majodina, not to approve the proposed increase and to instead consider an inflation-linked tariff.

The SALGA KZN Executive Committee, led by Cllr Xolani Dube, met on Friday and noted that currently, municipalities are owed a staggering R38-billion in unpaid bills, the highest municipal debt recorded in history.

“Such alarming debt levels and the proposed 13.5% bulk water tariff hike could lead to an unsustainable financial burden for municipalities tasked with delivering critical services to the public,” the statement read.

“Salga KZN recommends a more reasonable weighted average tariff increase of 6.1%, aligned with the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), to ensure affordability for ratepayers while maintaining municipal financial viability.”

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