eThekwini residents could pay R40 more for water infrastructure surcharge

The eThekwini Municipality by majority vote approved the Infrastructure Surcharge, associated with water and sanitation tariffs for another two financial years, at a council meeting on Wednesday.

The surcharge is to provide for a further investment of approximately R490 million, which is critically required to provide sustainable provision of water and sanitation services, stated the eThekwini Municipality in its report before council. 

For a consumer using 20kl of water per month, an increase to the monthly bill will be as follows: 

• R40 per month, excluding VAT, if the consumer is not connected to the waterborne sewerage system. 
• A further R30 per month, excluding VAT, where the customer is connected to the sewerage, resulting in a monthly surcharge per customer, using a hypothetical 20kl per month, of R70.

The municipality expects to collect an estimated R332 million. IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said this was part of the consultation programme previously, and the money will be ring-fenced for projects. 

Zwakhele Mncwango, ActionSA's provincial leader, said the surcharge comes at a time when the city increased tariffs.

“In the interest of ratepayers, the municipality should not attempt to put the surcharge on the ratepayers. We are punishing those who are paying for the services. There are many people connecting water and electricity illegally,” he said. 

Yogis Govender, DA eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) member, described the surcharge as an unjust and unnecessary burden on already struggling ratepayers, highlighting the city’s deepening financial mismanagement and its refusal to take responsibility for the crisis it has created.

“With almost R40 billion in uncollected debt, of which a staggering 40% relates to water, the city’s financial problems are largely self-inflicted. Instead of holding defaulters accountable and recovering these funds, eThekwini leadership has chosen to punish those who continue to pay their bills.

"This approach is unfair, unsustainable, and indicative of a government that prioritises quick revenue grabs over real solutions,” she said. 

Govender added that the city’s shocking 58% water loss, represented billions of rands in wasted revenue every year. She said this money could have been used to repair aging infrastructure, upgrade water systems, and prevent supply interruptions.

"Yet, year after year, the municipality fails to fix leaks, stop illegal connections and improve maintenance.

"The history of project delays, inflated costs, and contracts being extended indefinitely without consequence speaks volumes about the lack of accountability within this administration. Millions are spent on projects that fail to deliver results, while residents are expected to shoulder the cost of mismanagement through higher surcharges and tariffs," she said. 

Govender suggested that the city collect the outstanding debt, address the catastrophic water losses, and implement proper maintenance and financial management practices before turning again to residents’ pockets.

"eThekwini deserves transparent governance, responsible fiscal management, and a leadership that serves the public interest. The DA will continue to fight for a fairer, more accountable city where ratepayers are not treated as an endless source of cash to cover up municipal incompetence," she said. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za