eThekwini Municipality revises tariff hikes
eThekwini Municipality has revised down some of the tariff hikes that had been proposed.
It follows an outcry from locals and ratepayers associations who had complained the planned adjustments would deal another blow to hard-pressed citizens.
READ: Proposed eThekwini tariff hikes ‘painfully unaffordable’
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda's R65 billion budget, which he tabled on Wednesday, was adopted.
At a post-budget briefing on Thursday, he said the city went back to the drawing board after considering the grievances raised around the tariff increases.
"Electricity has been revised from 21.91% to 18.49%, which is aligned to NERSA [the National Energy Regulator of South Africa] increase. With regards to water, the council approved 14.9% increase for residential customers and 15.9% for business.
ALSO READ: Kaunda slams tariff hikes claims
"Some of the key drivers of the water tariff increase include, a 5.5% increase imposed by Umgeni Water. A 3% increase related to the construction of the essential Upper Umkhomazi Dam. Repairs and maintenance contributes around a 4.3% and security around 1%.
"Why are we giving all these details? It is because this is the only tariff which we did not review."
