DURBAN - Frustrated Durban residents who have “had enough” of paying what they say are exorbitant estimated eThekwini Metro water and electricity bills over the years embarked on protests against the increased tariffs that came into effect today.
Members of the Had Enough campaign, started last year by African Democratic Change (ADeC), held several ongoing protests in communities including Phoenix, Chatsworth, Montclair and Kenville among others.
ADeC activist Visvin Reddy said members of the campaign believed that the city should not increase tariffs.
Tariff increases that came into effect today include a 14.9% increase in electricity, 8.5% increase in for water and sanitation for both residential and business while property rates and refuse tariff increases are 4.9%.
The City said the electricity and water tariff increase were as a result of Eskom’s 17.8% bulk tariff increase and Umgeni Water Board’s 7% increase respectively.
Reddy said residents oppose the increase because of Covid-19 implications on the economy, job losses with many residents struggling to make ends meet and hard hit businesses which cannot pay their bills let alone pay for increased tariffs.
He said there is a growing number of residents, who have come together in groups of 10-20 in adherence to regulations, to voice their dissatisfaction with the city.
These protests are expected to continue in communities across Durban.
He said the City was using ratepayers as “a cash cow” while urgent issues such as corruption, mismanagement and incompetent officials remain.
Hundreds of millions of rands are lost through corruption and tourism investments including R160 million to bail out uShaka Marine World while ratepayers bare the brunt as the money is recouped through tariff increases, he said.
“We believe there should be no tariff increases. Over 40% of non-renewable water is lost due to water leaks and no one is talking about dealing with it,” said Reddy.
Reddy said illegal electricity connections are also a major issue that needed to be addressed.
He added that the City’s billing system has failed with many residents receiving exorbitant estimated bills.
THE MERCURY