ANC-EFF coalition in eThekwini Municipality wants a 22% electricity tariff hike

5 April 2023

Leading up to the voting and debate of the anticipated tariff hikes at last month’s council meeting, the DA in eThekwini had taken a stance to abstain from voting on the absurdly high tariff increases tabled by Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda for the municipality’s 2023/2024 budget.

In the budget, Kaunda proposed a 21.91% electricity hike for businesses and households. This comes amidst recurring interest rate hikes by the reserve bank as well as a continued lack of service delivery improvement in the city.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the mayor is disconnected from the realities of the people of eThekwini, who continue to be service-deprived. While increases are inevitable, a 21.91% rise might have been avoided had the city adopted the DA's advice on enhancing debt collection, the Auditor General's recommendation on tackling irregular expenditure, and rooting out corruption and maladministration.

The ANC and its coalition partner, the EFF, are clearly set on further collapsing the city and worsening the living conditions of the people of eThekwini.

In defence of this unjust proposal, Kaunda stands behind the impending approval of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), which has in the past proven that it does not have the interests of citizens at heart.

When faced with the decision of marking an x on the ballot paper, residents should not forget that this proposed increase is much higher than that of other municipalities and even that of Eskom's municipal increase of 18.49%.

As part of stakeholder engagement in the budgeting process, we will make submissions to management that will be part of the public participation process.

The DA urges residents to reject this tariff increase through the process of public comment, in anticipation of the final Budget tabled at the end of May.

Issued by Thabani Mthethwa, DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, 5 April 2023