The Msunduzi Municipality ratepayer associations gave several reasons for rejecting the proposed tariff increases for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo
Msunduzi Municipality ratepayer associations highlighted several reasons for rejecting the proposed tariff increases for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The municipality has proposed an increase of 9.26% for electricity, 13% for water, 13% for sanitation, 1.2% for rates, and 3.70% for refuse removal.
Anthony Waldhausen, co-founder and chairperson of the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC), said that Msunduzi is in a severe financial crisis, with failures so extensive that proposed tariff increases cannot be justified under any circumstance.
Msunduzi recorded over R715 million in electricity losses and more than R116m in water losses, as reflected in its draft 2024/2025 annual report. These losses alone undermine any proposal to raise tariffs on already overburdened residents, he said.
Waldhausen said that despite urgent infrastructure needs, the municipality failed to spend nearly R95m in conditional and infrastructure grants, which he felt directly contradicts the narrative that increased tariffs are needed to maintain and improve services.
He highlighted that R20m was written off for 41 indigent families, the R27m Royal AM Football Club sponsorship, and the R4.5m municipal shooting range project, which was not mandated by residents.
“Tariff increases are an attempt to make residents pay for the municipality’s mismanagement. While we commend the efforts currently underway to collect municipal arrears, the municipality should never have been allowed to reach a point where these amounts escalated to such levels,” Waldhausen said.
He said the primary focus must now shift toward restoring financial stability through improved revenue collection, equitable billing, and compliance with legislative frameworks.
Jimmy Naidoo, the chairperson of the Northern Area Ratepayers and Residents Association (NARRA) called for an improved and non-biased billing system. Naidoo said if all the residents paid for services, there would be no need for tariff increases. He said, residents who are paying are finding it unaffordable.
“We have repeatedly made submissions on our concerns on an annual basis. We don't see any improvements in service delivery. Our suburbs are a mess, and what is concerning is that domestic refuse compactors were bought recently. Are the increases to help the residents or to improve Pietermaritzburg, or is it for salaries and wasteful expenditure?” he said.
In a public statement, the municipality urged residents and businesses to participate in the draft Integrated Development Plan 2026/2027 and the draft budget by May 5. The municipality will be engaged in public consultations, and if the tariffs are approved, they will come into effect in July 2026.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za