eThekwini Ratepayers Reject Proposed 2026/27 Budget Amid Outcry Over Double Digit Water and Power Hikes

The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement slams the 2026/27 draft budget. Discover why residents are fighting 15% water and 10.5% electricity rate increases.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Independent Online (IOL)

The Confrontation Over Municipal Fiscal Planning

The eThekwini municipality is facing a significant standoff with its primary revenue base as representatives of the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) officially rejected the proposed 2026/27 draft budget. Asad Gaffar, the chairperson of the ERPM, characterized the document as inadequate and a violation of the transparency principles mandated by the Municipal Finance Management Act. The rejection comes ahead of a high stakes consultative meeting scheduled for April 16, where ratepayer associations are expected to challenge the legality and fairness of the city’s financial projections.

Hidden Surcharges and Infrastructure Losses

At the center of the dispute is the ERPM’s allegation that the municipality is concealing critical financial data within its reporting. Gaffar pointed specifically to infrastructure surcharges which he claims are buried inside water trading services rather than being listed as separate, ring fenced items. This lack of itemization makes it impossible for the public to verify how much revenue is being collected or if those funds are being directed toward repairing the city's crumbling water networks. Furthermore, the movement highlighted concerns over massive water losses and the escalating costs of water tanker services as evidence of fiscal mismanagement.

Oversight Gaps in Security and Outsourced Services

The draft budget has also come under fire for failing to provide a clear line item for outsourced security services used by municipal contractors. Ratepayers argue that this omission denies them insight into who is benefiting from these contracts and whether the expenditure is justified. Additionally, the ERPM criticized the document for not revealing revenue generation on a per ward basis, which prevents communities from seeing how much of their specific tax contributions are reinvested into local neglected parks and public gardens.