The Mangaung Council is yet to approve the 15.1% electricity hike for winter tariffs which will be implemented on 1 July 2023. Mangaung Councillor, Tjaart van der Walt, said they have not received a council note of when the meeting will be to approve the budget for the new municipal financial year. 

“The continuing hikes in living costs are unsustainable, everyone is struggling more and more. That is why all our DA members last year objected and opposed the 18.6% increase that Nersa greenlit to Eskom, which led to the 15.1% hike that was approved to municipalities,” explained Van der Walt.  

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However, the official opposition party is of the view that there have been speculations that the proposed hike is 4.7%, when it is actually 15.1%. The Municipality’s spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, says it’s best the question be asked to Centlec for a confirmation of the proposed hike, which was not confirmed nor denied by the power utility’s spokesperson, Lele Mamatu. 

Khedama also revealed that a water tariff hike is also on the cards of 9%, however, Van Der Walt thinks the water hike will be around 15.20%. 

“Only the draft MTREF (annual) budget has been tabled to the council. Communities can provide inputs to this budget until Tuesday 23 May 2023. Only after the budget has been approved by the council will these tariffs be approved for implementation on 1 July 2023. There has not yet been a confirmed date for the council to approve the budget,” explained Khedama.

The proposed electricity hike happens to be double the previous year’s hike. In 2022, electricity was hiked by 10.39%, while water was hiked by 7.75%. Other services which residents of Mangaung paid more towards, included sewerage tariffs which was increased by 2.4%, property rates increased by 3.89%, and refuse removal tariff increased by 12.97%,

OFM News