The budget was approved during a special virtual council meeting on 31 May. There will be an eight per cent increase in water tariffs, a four per cent increase in property taxes and a four per cent increase in the tariff for sewage removal.
The price of Merafong’s electricity will increase by 15 per cent, however. The DA and FF Plus said they did not support the increases.
According to Mr Blackie Zwart of the DA, the municipality should rather improve its financial management and act against non-payers than ask those who do pay to cough up more. Mr Ben van der Berg of the FF Plus echoed this view.
The municipality currently struggles financially and creditors wait an average of 108 days to be paid. Meanwhile, the municipality only collects 52 per cent of the debt owing to Merafong.
