The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) held a meeting in Overport on Tuesday. From left: Jay Singh, of the United Independent Movement (UIM) in eThekwini, Councillor Jameel Essop, representing the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in eThekwini; Saul Basckin, ActionSA councillor in eThekwini; Asad Gaffar, ERPM chairperson; Carl Lortan, the chairperson of Sydenham Ratepayers; and Abdool Valodia, chairperson of Overport Ratepayers.
Image: Zainul Dawood
The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) is expected to bring together a coalition of stakeholders to march against tariff increases and the draft municipal budget from Curries Fountain to Durban City Hall on Wednesday.
The municipality is holding public consultations on the R74.7 billion 2026/27 draft budget. The concern for ratepayers and political parties is the proposed tariff increases for electricity (10.5%), water (15%), sanitation (13%), refuse removal (13%), and property rates (5%).
Asad Gaffar, chairperson of ERPM, said the march is about protecting the future of the city, amplifying the voice of the people, restoring accountability, demanding dignity, reliable services, and responsible governance. He is expected to hand over a memorandum of demands to the municipality.
“Most importantly, it is about ensuring that the voices of ordinary people are no longer ignored. We are driven by the belief that residents deserve a municipality that functions effectively, responsibly, and transparently,” he said.
eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba met the ERPM on Tuesday to solicit input from key stakeholders ahead of the tabling of the final budget at the end of May 2026.
“Among the issues raised by the ERPM were the reduction of non-revenue water, tariff increases, and revenue enhancement strategies,” he said.
Xaba welcomed some of the proposals, noting that they align with the city’s Water and Sanitation Turnaround Strategy, which forms part of the broader trading services reforms currently being implemented by the municipality.
Regarding tariff increases, Xaba said he has written to the Minister of Electricity, as well as the Minister of Water and Sanitation, requesting Eskom and uMngeni-uThukela Water to reconsider their proposed tariffs for the 2026/27 financial year, as they are unaffordable.
“We want to assure the residents of eThekwini that we are constantly exploring ways to make the budget work for them,” added Xaba.
At an ERPM meeting held in Overport on Tuesday, Councillor Jameel Essop, representing the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in eThekwini, said residents have endured repeated and worsening service delivery failures.
Essop said there are ongoing water crises in communities, electricity instability and infrastructure neglect, sewage spills and environmental degradation, domestic refuse collection issues, collapse of road infrastructure, and billing and administrative failures.
“Small businesses are also under pressure, facing rising costs and unreliable services that threaten jobs and economic growth,” he said.
Saul Basckin, ActionSA councillor in eThekwini, said residents are being asked to absorb tariff increases while concerns continue to exist regarding wasteful and irregular expenditure, corruption allegations, and the municipality’s apparent inability to exercise proper financial and administrative control.
Basckin was also concerned about the municipality’s supply chain management (SCM) processes, lack of consequence management, poor oversight, and the non-revenue water crisis, which has reportedly remained above 55% in recent reporting periods.
“The proposed budget appears to contain little to no meaningful cost-saving measures aimed at reducing wastage, improving efficiency, or addressing systemic financial failures within the municipality,” he said.
Jay Singh of the United Independent Movement (UIM) in eThekwini said each year, the municipality pitches high figures and then reduces them to hoodwink people into believing they have listened to the people.
“We want tariff increases to be reasonable,” he said.
Carl Lortan, the chairperson of the Sydenham Ratepayers Association, said residents have been ripped off for years. Lortan was concerned about the old infrastructure, like water pipes, that needed to be replaced.
Abdool Valodia, the Overport Ratepayers Association chairperson, said Ward 31 contributes billions of rands to the municipality through rates from businesses and property owners, but is not receiving value for its money.
“If the municipality delivered services, we would not have formed the ratepayers association. How can we pay for something we don't get? People on the ground will be forking out at least R600 more per month. If everyone sits at home and thinks the associations will solve the problem, they are wrong,” he said.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za