The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mogalakwena lodged a formal complaint with the Public Protector on the 2nd of July regarding the municipality’s excessive 2026/2027 electricity and water tariffs.
The complaint raises serious concerns regarding the legality, transparency, and procedural fairness of the tariff increases. It specifically challenges the manner in which these were approved by Council after the ANC majority grouped key financial items together, effectively limiting proper debate and scrutiny.
The DA’s primary concerns include:
– A 100% increase in the Domestic Prepaid Basic Charge, which has resulted in some residents receiving 0.0 kWh when purchasing R200 worth of electricity.
– A 114.3% increase in the Domestic Conventional Basic Charge, despite the approved tariff schedule incorrectly reflecting it as a 5% increase.
– Unclear charges labelled “legacy charge” and “ancillary charge” appearing on electricity receipts, raising questions about lawful approval and disclosure.
– Domestic water tariff increases that exceed bulk supplier increases, while baseline charges for schools, places of worship, and sports clubs have doubled.
Furthermore, We are concerned that these significant changes were not properly disclosed during the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) public participation process, denying residents a meaningful opportunity to comment before the budget’s adoption.
In our complaint, the DA has requested that the Public Protector:
1. Investigate the legality of the tariff approval process.
2. Determine if the municipality misrepresented increases or implemented charges outside regulatory frameworks.
3. Recommend remedial action, including the suspension of unlawful tariffs and the transparent re-tabling of the 2026/2027 tariff schedule.
The DA remains committed to protecting residents from unfair municipal charges and ensuring governance complies with regulatory requirements. We will continue to use every lawful avenue to ensure transparency, accountability, and a fair budget for the people of Mogalakwena.