Community members met with Alfred Duma Local Municipality Mayor Zama Sibisi on Friday morning, 22 May, to hand over a petition opposing proposed tariff increases contained in the municipality’s 2026/2027 draft budget.
The petition, which gathered more than 500 signatures, was submitted at the Town Hall following growing concern among residents over proposed increases to property rates, refuse removal, and electricity tariffs.
A small group of residents gathered outside the Town Hall ahead of the meeting with the mayor.
During the handover, councillor “Doc” Rajkoomar welcomed residents and said the community was united in voicing concerns over the rising cost of living.
“The community has come together and spoken out loudly about the increases in electricity prices. We are not saying increases are unnecessary, but what we are saying is that increases should be aligned with the CPI and salary increases people are receiving. The petition asks for a reduction in prices or alternative solutions,” he said.
Residents are objecting to the municipality’s proposed 12% increase in both property rates and refuse removal tariffs, describing the increases as unaffordable and unsustainable amid ongoing economic pressure.
The petition, titled Formal Objection to the Proposed ADLM 2026/2027 Draft Budget: Rates and Refuse Increases, was addressed to the mayor, speaker, chief financial officer, and municipal manager.
Councillors Sharon Buys and “Doc” Rajkoomar both voiced support for the initiative, saying it aimed to consolidate community concerns and ensure residents’ objections were formally recorded during the public budget consultation process.
Responding to residents, Mayor Sibisi thanked the community for engaging directly with the municipality and assured them their concerns would be considered.
“We appreciate your visit here. I had another meeting scheduled, but when I was informed that community members wanted to meet with the mayor, I decided to stop everything and come to meet with you,” he said.
“I will take this matter to the Executive Committee and then to the Budget and Council Committee so that we can see what can be done to meet the community halfway.”
The mayor explained that electricity tariffs remained a challenge because the municipality purchases electricity from Eskom and does not generate its own supply.
“We as the municipality do not produce electricity; we buy it from Eskom. In order to maintain infrastructure, pay for electricity and employ staff dealing with electricity services, the municipality needs to make a profit from it. There is therefore no way to avoid increasing costs entirely,” he said.
However, Sibisi acknowledged that tariff increases needed to remain affordable for residents.
“It has to be at a level where everybody is still able to buy electricity because increasing tariffs beyond what people can afford does not help either the municipality or the community,” he added.
He concluded by saying the municipality would consider the complaints raised and provide feedback to residents.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance councillor Thys J van Rensburg is also raising awareness around proposed increases at uThukela District Municipality, where residents are objecting to a proposed 20% increase in water and service tariffs.
According to the petition led by Van Rensburg, residents argue that the increase is unfair amid ongoing service delivery failures, including water shortages, leaking infrastructure, and sewage spills.
The petition further alleges that the municipality has incurred more than R1.3 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure, while calling for urgent intervention from Parliament and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Residents supporting the petition are demanding that the proposed 20% tariff increase be rejected and that stronger accountability measures be implemented within the municipality.
