The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg rejects the ANC-EFF-ActionSA-PA budget tabled by the MMC for Finance, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, and will vote against it.
This budget, despite the Executive’s spin, is not a fully funded budget and is tabled on the back of an over reliance on loans and has its eyes set squarely on the pockets of Johannesburg’s ratepayers. Nothing more, and nothing less.
40.2% of the City’s Capital budget is funded by loans, and will ensure that the government of tomorrow, will have to right the wrongs of an out of touch Executive, today.
This budget does not focus on what is needed: water and electricity infrastructure investment. While Johannesburg’s taps run dry, and some areas go days without power. The only reason these failures become residents’ problems, is because the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has failed, and continues to fail to provide the infrastructure investment needed to keep water in taps, and lights on. This budget continues that trend.
Across the board, the City has decided to increase rates – which means that residents and ratepayers especially, are expected to pay more and receive less. Tariff hikes include:
- Property rates: 4.6%;
- Electricity: 12.41%;
- Water: 13.9%;
- Sanitation: 13.9%; and
- Refuse: 6.6%
Residents’ pockets cannot continue to be the piggy bank, and saving grace of a City that is unable to manage its own finances. Johannesburg’s rot runs deep, and the poor management of its finances lies at the very core of all issues the City faces.
In stark contrast to the ANC led coalition, political campaign budget, the DA proposes the Tariff adjustments as follows:
- Property rates: 0% increase, reflecting stagnant or declining property values due to infrastructure decay.
- Electricity: 12.41% (aligned with pass-through costs).
- Water: 13.9% (aligned with pass-through costs).
- Sanitation: 4.6%, linked to property rates for residential users, as it is a flat rate based on property size.
- Refuse: 4.6%, balancing affordability and service delivery.
The DA proudly rejects Johannesburg’s insufficient, and failure of a budget.