Stellenbosch Municipality has announced its operating budget for the upcoming financial year, with a focus on maintaining affordable services for its residents. The budget includes a revenue increase of 7.42%, in line with the current inflation rate. The total operating revenue is projected to rise from R2 209 698 098 in 2022-’23 to R2 386 813 668 in 2023-’24.
Executive Mayor, Adv Gesie van Deventer said given the economic conditions, low employment levels, and disposable income constraints, the municipality recognised the need to keep services affordable. “To achieve this, management conducted a thorough investigation of potential pitfalls and discovered that employee costs were not aligned with realistically anticipated revenue streams. Furthermore, higher input costs for electricity provision contributed to a decline in electricity surpluses. Unfortunately, these factors are beyond the municipality’s control, making it impossible to fill many vacant positions due to financial limitations,” Van Deventer added.
When the draft budget was advertised, the proposed tariffs showed average increases as follows:
- Property Rates: 7.00%
- Electricity: 17.61%
- Water: 6.00%
- Sanitation: 6.50%
- Refuse removal: 9.10%
“However, in response to public feedback requesting lower tariffs, the municipality revised its proposed increases. Through careful adjustments and the postponement of certain projects, the new proposed tariff increases are lower than initially planned. The municipality aimed to stay within the predicted annual inflation rate range of 7% – 8.1% and cover costs without generating a profit,” Van Deventer said.
The revised average tariff increases are as follows:
- Property Rates: 6.50%
- Electricity: 15.10%
- Water: 6.00%
- Sanitation: 6.50%
- Refuse removal: 9.00%
Property rates, a crucial revenue source, will increase by 6.50% instead of the previously proposed 7.00%. To support vulnerable groups, rates rebates will be available to senior citizens and disabled persons with an income of R15 000 or less, following the requirements of the amended Rates Policy.
Regarding electricity prices, the municipality emphasized that they are regulated by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). “The increase in pricing for bulk electricity purchases is determined by Nersa and affects all municipalities. The inclining block rate tariff structure encourages lower usage by setting higher average prices for higher consumption. Although the municipality cannot absorb Eskom’s substantial 18.63% tariff hike, it managed to limit its own increase to 15.10%, mitigating the impact on residents.
Considering the prediction of a severe drought later this year and the affordability of basic services for the poor, the water tariff will increase by 6.00%. This increase, Van Deventer says, aims to support current and future capital investment in essential water infrastructure.
“Refuse removal services, classified as an economical service, will experience an above-inflation tariff increase of 9.00% due to historical circumstances. Additional funding is required for waste transport from the Stellenbosch Landfill Site. The tariff increase ensures that the service can break even and covers the cost of providing the service. Fortunately, refuse removal forms a small part of the overall services bill to residents, minimizing the impact.”
In a slightly positive development, the ward allocations for the 2023/2024 financial year will increase to R100 000 per ward. These funds will be allocated to project-driven activities within the ward boundaries, such as gender-based violence awareness, Women’s Day events, community safety initiatives, and HIV training.
“Stellenbosch Municipality remains committed to providing financial support and protecting its vulnerable residents. The municipality offers free basic services to poor households as part of its poverty alleviation efforts. The indigent policy provides support to households unable to pay for basic services, including those with low incomes, the unemployed, child-headed households, retired persons, and disabled individuals. Indigent households will receive benefits such as free sanitation and refuse removal services, 6 kiloliters of free water per month, and 100 units of free electricity per month. These subsidies will be credited to the customer’s account during the monthly billing run.”
To qualify as an indigent household, the main breadwinner/s must earn less than R7 000 per month, as per the amended Indigent Policy. Senior citizens and disabled persons will receive percentage rebates based on different monthly household income levels.
