Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dulandi Leech and Sesotho by Karabo Khakhau MP.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has put forward several key proposals concerning the tariffs outlined in the Draft Budget. Our aim is to ensure fairness, affordability, and sustainability for residents.
We advocate for a 0% increase in Property Rates, considering the dual increases imposed last year—both on tariffs and the Valuation Roll. Additionally, the DA proposes an 8% increase in electricity, taking into account the significantly higher proposed increase of 15% by NERSA and the block tariff increase.
In the realm of water tariffs, we firmly believe that a 15% increase surpasses the inflation rate, and burdening residents with funding the Metro’s staggering R470 million in water losses is unreasonable.
The DA emphasises the necessity for the Metro to base its budget calculations on a 70% collection rate for current accounts. This approach ensures a funded and sustainable budget that can meet the needs of the community.
The Democratic Alliance is committed to advocating for balanced tariffs that protect the interests of Mangaung residents. We will continue engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure fair and reasonable outcomes in the final budget. Contrary to Mangaung, in DA-led metropolitan areas we have a proven track record of delivering efficient and effective service delivery within a sustainable budget. Our approach is to prioritise spending on essential services while minimizing wasteful expenditure. This has resulted in improved service delivery and increased investor confidence in the city’s financial management.