The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni strongly objects to the proposed tariff increases for water, electricity, and waste removal—services which are barely rendered, if at all. These tariff hikes have become completely unaffordable to residents who already suffer from near-daily service interruptions.
The proposed increases, now open for public comment, have been met with widespread outrage from residents -rightly so. Paying more for something you do not receive is an abject insult.
In any functional system, price increases are justified by reliable service delivery and trust. In Emfuleni, the opposite is true. The municipality is demanding more from its residents while delivering less.
The DA specifically objects to:
- A proposed 10.74% electricity increase on top of the 12.74% NERSA-approved hike, resulting in a shocking total of 23.48%;
- A 15.30% increase in water tariffs, with no credible plan to stabilize or improve supply; and
- Any increase in waste removal tariffs, where services are non-existent.
The ANC-led Emfuleni is now attempting to fix systemic failures by further burdening the fewer than 40% of residents who still pay their rates. This is a blatant attempt to rob residents instead of fixing long-standing issues.
Emfuleni’s executive must:
- Urgently engage NERSA and Rand Water to review and reduce the proposed increases before approval by Council, and verify the possibility of lower tariff adjustments;
- Zero increase on services not delivered—no increases for waste removal, sewerage, or property rates until basic services are delivered;
- Drastic budget adjustments, cutting wasteful expenditure on non-core functions, especially bloated security contracts costing hundreds of millions annually; and
- Get rid of redundant and duplicated cadre roles within Emfuleni’s staff structure.
Until this municipality can prove its ability to deliver basic services, it cannot morally or practically demand increased payment from its residents. The DA will continue to oppose these outrageous tariffs and stand with the ultimate stakeholders—the people of Emfuleni.