THE eThekwini Municipality’s final tariff hikes have caused great discontent among ratepayers and residents, who believe these will worsen the already constrained finances of many homes.
Last Friday, the city’s mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, tabled the municipality’s final 2024/2025 budget of R67.2 billion at a full council meeting, which saw the various tariff increases being finalised.
While it saw between 1% and 2% decreases from the tariff hikes which were proposed during the tabling of the draft budget in March, ratepayers’ and residents’ representatives said the decreases would not make a significant difference in assisting citizens.
Kaunda said the revised tariff increases followed extensive budget hearings held in various regions in April.
“We were encouraged by constructive engagements during the hearings as communities did not only complain, but also provided practical solutions.
“We want to assure you that this was not merely a ‘tick box’ exercise as most of your
