Africa-Press – South-Africa. Durban
residents are set to feel the pinch if the eThekwini executive council gets the
green light to implement proposed tariff increases for water, electricity,
sanitation, and refuse.
The
eThekwini exco on Thursday heard proposals for increases in key tariffs that
will affect the pockets of ratepayers and residents.
The
City has in recent months been hit by crippling electricity and water cuts and
opposition parties are urging the council to pay more attention to
infrastructure.
One
of the proposed increases, over the next three years, is for water tariffs to
increase by 5.9% in the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years for
residential properties.
For
businesses, it is proposed that water tariffs increase by 9% over three years.
Electricity would increase by 8.61% in 2022/23, 5.6% in 2023/24, and 4.7% in
2024/25. Sanitation is set to increase for residential property by 5.9% for the
next three years until the 2024/25 financial year. The same would apply for
three years for business, but at 9%.
Refuse
was also set to increase by 4.5% in 2022/23 and 9.9% in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Business refuse would increase by 7.9% for all three years.
‘Infrastructure challenges’
ANC
councillor Thanduxolo Sabelo said the party would be voting in support of the
draft budget.
“We
believe the outcome of the consultation period will lend us a people’s budget
that is pro-poor, seeking to attend to challenges facing our communities in
terms of service delivery.
“It
will seek to fix the infrastructure challenges of the past in terms of our
municipality.
He said:
The
DA called for genuine participation from the public on the budget.
“Over
the years the budget has not been participatory. We decide the budget and say
to the public this is what it is. We need to change tactics and engage with
communities, and it is critical in winning peoples trust,” DA councillor
Nicole Graham said.
Stop using excuses
Her
second concern was the prioritisation of infrastructure.
“Our
electricity and water networks cannot continue with the unplanned cuts. No
matter what political party we are in, we have not supported the budget in a
long time but would like to have one we can support if it addresses the
concerns of the people.
“If
we don’t address infrastructure issues, it will be too late.”
IFP
councillor Mdu Nkosi said the municipality had to stop using the excuse that
the “imbalances of the past” were stalling service delivery.
Nkosi said:
“We
are talking billions, but people don’t feel they are in a city talking about
billions.”
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