Mixed reaction to increased tariffs

Residents of Bela-Bela’s Ward 5 received with mixed feelings Mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni’s unveiling of the increase in municipal tariffs.

Ngobeni announced the increases at an IDP roadshow for the 2019/2020 budget review at Bela-Bela High School on Saturday 13 April.

Outlining the draft budget for the new tariff charges, Ngobeni emphasized that the increase will be effected from 1 July and will only affect income-earners and not necessarily indigents.

Property rates, together with refuse and sanitation tariffs were increased by 5,2%, with water at 9,4%.

Ngobeni said electricity tariffs would rise by 13,7%, against the backdrop of an increaser of 15,63% by power bulk supplier Eskom.

— The BEAT