City of Johannesburg’s proposed tariff hikes cause outrage
The DA in Gauteng says the proposed tariff hikes in the City of Johannesburg are absurd considering the absence of essential service provision.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says the proposed tariff hikes in the City of Johannesburg are absurd considering the absence of essential service provision.
The proposed hikes come as most residents in Johannesburg grapple with a water crisis, among other challenges.
PROPOSED TARIFF HIKES IN THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
The proposed tariff increases are as follows:
- Rates: +4.8%
- Electricity: +11.3%
- Water: +7.7%
- Sewer: +7.7%
- Pikitup: +5.9%
- City Power Service & Capacity Charges: +16.74%.
- Sewer Charges: Flats are now classed as multi-dwellings. Multi-dwellings under R700 000 value charged R314.68 per unit. Over R700 000 is R612.58 per unit.
- Prepaid Electricity Changes are to be split into two categories:
- Low Users (indigent customers): +6.36%
- High Users (regular customers): +18.84%
- High Users will also pay R244.2 Service Charge plus R237.3 Capacity Charge (both plus VAT)
- Approximately R553.73 a month increase (with VAT) for prepaid customers plus 18.84% increase in electricity use.
These are the official increases that were effective from 1 July 2023:
- Water – 9.3%
- Electricity – 14.97%
- Property rates – 2%
- Refuse collection – 7%
- Sanitation – 9.3%
DA CRITICISES PROPOSED INCREASES
The DA has slammed the tariff hikes proposed by the City of Johannesburg, saying they come alongside a wholly unfit budget that is seemingly designed to suppress the city’s residents’ needs.
DA Johannesburg Caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said they have on more than one occasion requested for the City of Johannesburg to not thumb suck when making budget adjustments, to no avail.
Kayser-Echeozonjoku said they highlighted the problems in the adjustment budget when it was tabled. However, the current administration refuses to engage all councillors representing residents.
“This becomes increasingly clear as they continue to steamroll reports through the Council. Public participation on the proposed increases will commence soon, we encourage residents to have their voices heard by actively partaking in this process,” she said.
Regarding the proposed water increase, the City of Johannesburg said South Africa is considered a country where water scarcity is a real threat.
The municipality said the approach to the structure of the proposed tariff is to emphasise the importance of water as a scarce resource and create a culture of controlled consumption.
Fortunately, the first six kl will be provided free for residential customers. However, on average, all the other residential postpaid and prepaid water bands will be increased by 7.7%.
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