The Tshwane Metro’s proposed 2026/27 draft budget could drive up residents’ monthly household expenses by an estimated R300 to R450.
These sharp increases were announced on Thursday during the tabling of the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) to the Council.
The proposed increases are as follows:
• Water: +10,0%
• Electricity: +8,8%
• Sanitation: +5,0%
• Property rates: +5,0%
• Refuse removal: +4,1%
While residents are expected to absorb tariff increases, equal to double to triple the inflation rate in some cases, municipal employees enjoy generous upward adjustments to their compensation.
In addition to a salary increase of 4,75%, a backdated adjustment of 3,5% for the 2021/2022 financial year has also been implemented. It is unacceptable that households are hit with increases exceeding their own income growth by far in order to finance the Metro’s wage bill.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) wishes to point out that the Metro’s so-called surplus of R1,4 billion is merely a bookkeeping illusion.
The budget is based on an unrealistic revenue collection rate of 90%, despite the Auditor-General (AG) repeatedly confirming that Tshwane’s actual collection rate is below 85%.
This deliberate overoptimistic view means that the projected surplus will most likely turn into an actual deficit of between R700 million and R1 billion.
The proposed budget is only “funded” on paper, which seriously jeopardises the Metro’s financial sustainability and essential service delivery.
Residents deserve a sound budget based on economic realities, not on projections that will ultimately leave households shouldering the financial burden while receiving less value for money.
The draft budget is now open for public participation.
The Freedom Front Plus urgently appeals to residents to use this opportunity and make submissions.
Poor planning simply cannot be a contributing factor to Tshwane Metro residents’ financial strain.
