Coalition government in Tshwane tables first funded budget in 4 years
The budget included double-digit tariff hikes for electricity and water and also introduced a new tariff called city cleansing.
FILE: A City of Tshwane Council meeting. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The coalition government in Tshwane led by the African National Congress (ANC), ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has tabled the municipality’s first funded budget in four years.
This means that since 2021, the capital city’s expenditure is projected not to exceed its estimated revenue.
The draft budget for the 2025/2026 financial year was tabled before the council on Thursday.
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The budget included double-digit tariff hikes for electricity and water and also introduced a new tariff called city cleansing.
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the municipality achieved the funded budget through cutting down on contracted services and building its own capacity.
"What we are presenting to this council is a credible, fully funded budget. This budget does not include a loan. On the tariffs we are proposing, we have tried to absorb as much increases as possible. Eskom 12.7% increase, we are only proposing 12%. Rand Water are imposing 15%, we are only proposing 13%."
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane caucus chairperson, Jacqui Uys, said residents would carry the burden of this funded budget through paying more for municipal bills.
Uys said the newly published valuation roll by the municipality had inflated people’s property values, which would result in them paying more for rates.
"Any government aspires to table a funded budget but this cannot come at the detriment of taxpayers. The people of Tshwane are already overburdened with taxes and the DA will oppose the new tax."