Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday warned residents of Johannesburg about looming price increases for rates, water, electricity, and sewer services.
“The proposed tariff increases in the City of Johannesburg are absurd considering the absence of basic service provision,” DA Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku said in a statement.
Earlier Wednesday, the City of Johannesburg tabled its draft budget and tariffs for the 2024/25 financial year starting 1st July 2024.
“These proposed increases come alongside a wholly unfit budget that seemingly is designed to suppress the needs of residents in the city,” Echeozonjoku said.
“We have on more than one occasion requested for the city to not thumb suck when making budget adjustments, to no avail.
“We have highlighted the problems in the adjustment budget when it was tabled.”
She complained that “this administration” refuses to engage all councillors representing residents.
Echeozonjoku said public participation in the proposed increases will begin soon.
“We encourage residents to have their voices heard by actively partaking in this process,” Echeozonjoku said.
“For example, sewer charges specifically are not per usage but still per unit, which is very important to note as residents have complained about this.
“This way of billing, results in issues with the bills.”
Echeozonjoku revealed that the proposed tariff increases were as follows:
- Rates: +4.8
- Electricity: +11.3%
- Water: Sewer: Pikitup: +7.7% +7.7% +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.
Echeozonjoku said the proposed prepaid electricity changes were 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) Approx R553.73 a month increase (with VAT) for pre-paid customers plus 18.84% increase in electricity use
“Residents must ensure that they attend the public meetings when the venues are shared with councillors, we will also try our level best to ensure that these venues are as widely publicised as possible,” said Echeozonjoku.
“Only by participating, and actively fighting back against these ridiculous increases, will we be able to defend ourselves against unreasonable rate increases.”
The Bulrushes has it on good authority that residents will soon be able to read the full documents online on the City of Joburg Tariffs at: https://joburg.org.za/documents_/Pages/Key%20Documents/other/links/tariffs/Tariffs.aspx
