Please only submit one objection per person 😉
If you would like to note your objections to the planned rates increase, click the button below and an email will be created for you in your email application. This is to ensure that the municipality registers each objection separately. Ensure that you add your name at the end of the email! 🥳
If the link doesn’t work for you, please copy and paste the text below into an email, send it to public.consultation@msunduzi.gov.za. Please cc petitions@marrc.org.za so that we can ensure your voice is heard!
THE MUNICIPAL MANAGER
MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY
PIETERMARITZBURG
“Per E-mail: public.consultation@msunduzi.gov.za”
Dear Sir/Madam
SUBJECT: FORMAL OBJECTION TO PROPOSED TARIFF INCREASES- 2026/2027 FINANCIAL YEAR
I hereby lodge a formal objection to the proposed tariff increases for the upcoming financial year, namely:
- Property Rates: 2%; Refuse Removal: 3.7%; Electricity: 9.26%; Water and Sanitation: 13%
While I understand the need for the Municipality to maintain financial sustainability and continue delivering essential services, the proposed increases, particularly for electricity and water and sanitation are significantly above inflation and will place considerable financial strain on residents and small businesses.
The 13% increase in water and sanitation is especially concerning given the current economic climate, high unemployment levels, and rising cost of living. Similarly, the 9.26% electricity increase will have a substantial impact on households already struggling with affordability challenges.
Furthermore, residents continue to experience service delivery challenges, infrastructure failures, and billing inaccuracies. It is difficult to justify above-inflation tariff increases without clear improvements in service quality, infrastructure maintenance, and financial accountability.
I respectfully request that the Municipality:
- Reconsider and impose zero increases for property rates, refuse removal, electricity, water and sanitation.
- Provide a detailed breakdown and justification for the increases.
- Implement stronger cost-containment measures before passing additional financial burdens onto residents.
- Improve transparency regarding how additional revenue will directly improve service delivery.
- Implement fair and equitable billing throughout PMB, by ensuring that unbilled areas are properly metered and billed on the correct tariff.
I trust that the Municipality will give due consideration to the financial hardships faced by the community and revise the proposed tariffs accordingly.
I look forward to your response.
Yours faithfully
____________________________________
Insert Your Name:
