The Port Alfred Ratepayers and Residents Association has launched a petition against municipal tariff increases they say are unsustainable. Chairperson Ren Mouton announced this at the organisation’s annual general meeting recently.
Referring to the draft budget and integrated development plan (IDP) for 2025/26, Mouton noted several concerns. These included spending on items and events that fell outside the municipality’s core responsibilities; “disproportionate” increases in SSEG (Small-Scale Embedded Generation) tariffs following a consultant Hendrik Barnard’s cost of supply study; a proposed 120% increase in capacity charges for 2025–26; and tariff structures that PARRA described as illogical because increased usage resulted in lower per-unit costs.
In her report, Mouton encouraged ratepayers and residents to take the time to review the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the municipal budget.
“It is essential to compare the budget allocations with the priorities outlined in the IDP to understand how public funds are intended to be used,” Mouton said. “Pay particular attention to Chapter 4 of the IDP, which clearly outlines the areas where Ndlambe Municipality is permitted—and not permitted—to allocate ratepayer money.”
Representatives at a Ndlambe Ratepayers Forum on April 8 had criticised the allocation of funds to donations and social programmes that should be funded at national or provincial level. The NRF deemed the R45 million debt write-off as unacceptable.
Mouton said that throughout the year, PARRA had engaged with Ndlambe Municipaity, focusing on service-delivery shortcomings (roads, water supply, sewage spills, street lighting, public facilities and communication.
The organisation aims to get at least 2000 signatures for tis petition, shared via their Facebook page, against the proposed tariff increases.
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, May 29, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
