In Durban, the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) has strongly objected to the municipality\u2019s proposed 2025\/26 budget, which outlines double-digit increases across almost all essential services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is despite national consumer inflation being just 2.8% as of April, according to Statistics South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ERPM chairperson Asad Gaffar said these hikes are \u201cindefensible and unsustainable\u201d given a worsening affordability crisis, rising household debt, and ongoing service delivery failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe municipality has not demonstrated how prior tariff revenues have been applied to deliver on the Integrated Development Plan (IDP),\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that, in the absence of financial transparency, any request for increased revenue is unacceptable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will not accept continued financial burdens on residents without accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform,\u201d Gaffar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association (JPOMA) has echoed similar concerns in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The JPOMA represents landlords for over 250,000 residents, primarily in inner-city affordable housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has formally objected to Johannesburg\u2019s proposed increases, calling them economically unsustainable and in conflict with principles of affordability and equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Durban has proposed the highest increase in property rates at 12.9%, far outpacing Johannesburg\u2019s 7.5% and Cape Town\u2019s 7.9%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For electricity, Durban again leads with a 12.72% hike, followed by Johannesburg at 12.41%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cape Town\u2019s increase is a modest 2%, which is notably below Eskom\u2019s national 11.32% increase for bulk municipal customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Cape Town residents are not spared the financial pressure. The city has introduced new tariff structures that disproportionately affect mid- to high-value properties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Water and sanitation tariffs are set to rise by 7.3% and 11.1% respectively. More controversially, new fixed charges based on property values will replace the current connection-size-based model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The city is also proposing a new city-wide cleaning levy linked to property value, replacing the previous model funded through property rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shifting the financial burden onto residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Poor-service-delivery-pothole-rubbish-water-1024x576.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDespite these mounting charges, the quality of municipal services continues to decline. The Auditor-General\u2019s 2024 audit<\/a> of local government painted a bleak picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOnly 34 of South Africa\u2019s 257 municipalities (13%) achieved clean audits. In many cases, infrastructure projects were found to be delayed, over budget, or of poor quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a sample of 75 projects visited by auditors, 72% had significant deficiencies. The report noted that newly built infrastructure was often left unused, and existing infrastructure was deteriorating due to neglect and inadequate maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke stressed that little progress had been made in addressing these persistent failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDespite commitments made by roleplayers in the accountability ecosystem for improvement, action has been too slow and has had little impact on the lived realities of ordinary South Africans,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weak planning, mismanagement, and poor financial controls remain entrenched in local government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDespite these mounting charges, the quality of municipal services continues to decline. The Auditor-General\u2019s 2024 audit<\/a> of local government painted a bleak picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 34 of South Africa\u2019s 257 municipalities (13%) achieved clean audits. In many cases, infrastructure projects were found to be delayed, over budget, or of poor quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a sample of 75 projects visited by auditors, 72% had significant deficiencies. The report noted that newly built infrastructure was often left unused, and existing infrastructure was deteriorating due to neglect and inadequate maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke stressed that little progress had been made in addressing these persistent failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDespite commitments made by roleplayers in the accountability ecosystem for improvement, action has been too slow and has had little impact on the lived realities of ordinary South Africans,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Weak planning, mismanagement, and poor financial controls remain entrenched in local government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n