Johannesburg – Residents face a steep rise in water costs after the City of Joburg approved a 65,6% increase in its water demand management levy as part of the 2026/27 budget.
The budget was approved on 27 May.
The levy for domestic consumers will climb from R65,08 to R107,74 per month, yet the Metro has not disclosed how this figure was calculated.
The tariff documents only state that the levy is a fixed monthly charge meant to cover network costs and base water installations, but no supporting explanation accompanies the drastic increase.
The absence of detailed information has raised concerns about the integrity of the public participation process.
Residents were invited to comment on the proposed increase, but without access to methodology, cost analysis, or revenue allocation, they were left unable to assess whether the hike was rational or necessary.
Critics argue that this reduces public consultation to a mere formality.
AfriForum, which first requested clarity during the draft budget stage, says the Metro’s refusal to provide substantive answers undermines transparent governance.
The organisation’s legal team has now demanded a full response by 5 June, warning that failure to comply will result in urgent court action.
“The Metro has repeatedly referred to infrastructure maintenance, service reliability, and long-term sustainability,” Marais de Vaal, AfriForum’s Advisor for Environmental Affairs, said on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
“Those are legitimate objectives.
“However, the public participation process requires more than broad statements of intent.
“Residents must be given sufficient information to evaluate why this specific increase was chosen, how it was calculated, and whether a 65,6% increase is a necessary and reasonable step to achieve those objectives.
“The Metro nevertheless proceeded to approve the increase,”
The levy is one of the Metro’s major revenue streams, expected to generate well over R1 billion annually.
Yet neither the approved budget nor the tariff documentation explains how much revenue will be raised or how it will be spent.
Meanwhile, AfriForum’s legal team yesterday formally demanded that the Metro provide a full substantive response to the organisation’s requests by Friday, 5 June 2026.
Should the Metro fail to do so, the organisation said it will approach the High Court on an urgent basis.
