SOARING PRICES, FAILING MUNICIPALITIES

AS MUNICIPAL TARIFFS INCREASE AND AUDIT OUTCOMES WORSEN, RESIDENTS ARE LEFT PAYING MORE FOR LESS

- SANDI KWON HOO AND DANIE VAN DER LITH

AS KIMBERLEY braces for another shutdown over unaffordable electricity prices on July 14, the cost of living continues to rise — and confidence in municipal governance continues to fall.

From July 1, Sol Plaatje Municipality implemented steep tariff increases across core services. Electricity tariffs for domestic users jumped by 9.6%, while water, sanitation, refuse removal and property rates each rose by 4.4%. On July 2, fuel prices increased by up to 84 cents per litre, adding further pressure to households already stretched thin.

For a typical working-class or middle-income household, the increases mean significantly higher monthly expenses — especially during winter when energy consumption spikes.

A family using more than 350 kWh per month now pays R3.99 per unit, compared to R3.64 previously.

Water rates climb steeply too: after the initial 6 kilolitres at R8.42, users face rates of up to R45.49 per kilolitre.