As a trending concern in Newcastle’s resident’s lives and a common conversational topic in social and business environments. Municipal bills of late, have been skyrocketing with many Newcastillians forking out substantially more than they did in the past.
In light of this growing, unanswered concern, the Newcastillian – Online Daily News enquired why the municipal bills of late, have been so high? Why are residents expected to fork out extra cash on their monthly expenditure, especially now after months of the financially crushing lockdown?
Firstly, let us look back to 29 June 2020 when Newcastle Mayor, Cllr. Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba officially presented the Newcastle Municipality’s annual budget for 2020/2021.
During the budget speech, Cllr Dr Mahlaba announced Newcastillians could expect electricity tariffs to increase by 6.22%, while water tariffs would increase by 5%. However, do these percentages correlate with the increases noted by residents on their monthly bills?
Amrè Gibson explains her monthly municipal bill jumped up by more than R1500. However, during the month of May, in the midst of level 4 lockdown, it only went up by R500. She now questions why the municipal bills are so high, especially with Newcastle Municipality switching off geysers to help cut costs.
Before we continue, noting that the Municipality stated a while back, the geysers were to be switched off in order to save on electricity and not money per se, in the hope of preventing higher levels of loadshedding, must be kept in mind.
Continuing on the subject, living in a complex in Pioneer Park, Gibson says her family comes from Cato Ridge where the cost of living is higher, but their municipal bill seldom went over R1000. When looking at the increase in the tariffs, she stresses the bills should still not be at the level they are. “It does not make sense, a person is worried about getting your utility bill,” she points out.
Adding to the concerns voiced by Gibson, another resident who is concerned about the exorbitant tariffs is Faizel Cassim, a local businessman whose bill has escalated by over R2000.
Concerned about the high bills, Cassim would like to establish a forum to address the matter, so that resolutions can be found and the community can move forward. However, he says a lack of public participation is proving to be a tad problematic.
He believes by creating a forum and establishing structure, the community can address the issues at hand through a functional medium. “We are coming out of a pandemic and people can’t afford this,” he stresses.
The Newcastle Municipality issued a statement regarding the matter, but is the municipality’s response the answer the community is looking for?
“The Newcastle Municipality is aware of the high municipal bills for consumers in Lennoxton, Fernwood, Paradise and Central. The high municipal bills are a result of averaged meter readings for the month of July’s municipal bills, which were in turn a result of staff shortages due to increased numbers of Covid-19 cases in the municipality,” the municipality stated.
Furthermore, according to the municipality, the averaging of meter readings was, unfortunately, unavoidable.
“The averaged meter readings are a computer-generated estimate based on twelve (12) month meter readings. The aforementioned estimate was regrettably very low as it was based on mostly summer months’ consumption. “
The municipality adds that the August municipal bills are based on actual meter readings, which reflects winter consumption and catches on the previous month’s lower estimate and hence the big jump in consumption units.
Continuing, the municipal bills for the month of August are now, according to the Municipality, based on the increased electricity and water tariffs for the 2020/2021 financial year.
Offering a helping hand to the community the Municipality states, “To this end, should any of the consumers have difficulties in making the required payment for the municipal bills, such consumers are encouraged to visit the municipal offices to make payment arrangements.”
With the Municipality stating that residents will note a positive change in tariffs, we can only wait to see if these words ring true. Share your views with us in the comment section below?
Their explanation is completely dumb founded, reason being is can anyone’s account jump by R3000 all of a sudden….especially when everyone got back to work, no is at home during the day and to put the cherry on the top gas is used. The most we ever paid in mid winter was R5100, July came to R4200 even if my acc came to R6000 i would understand but R7150…thats damn day light robbery.
I know my response will go on deaf ears as well as the municipality has a dnt care attitude bout this.
I’m living in Aviary Hill my bill this month is R5800, while we only 4 in the house, 2 kids below 6years and 2 adults. These people are crooks they lying about everything they saying. I went to them asking for meter readers to come from last week but till today they never came.
There are 12 months in a year, 3 per season, how can an average monthly consumption over a 12 month period include more months in summer….
It is impossible that the actual readings are double the average readings. Honestly. I know of more than one household who’s bill is double or more than double the normal bill. I’m sorry but our community is now fed up of the incompetence and corruption within our municipality and I doubt any one of us will take this lying down. Newcastle will soon be a ghost town at the rate this is going.
This is serious and affecting our lives dramatically .My bill is standing at R16000.
How insane is this .from previously having paid between R60oo to R8000..
We need answers to this madness .
Exceptions from the mayor in 2019 has made his statement null and void.2020 has brought the CPU at its lowest and employees did not get increase unlike the borough of the amajuba district. This increase this increase in direct contravention of the president. The fraud and corruption in Newcastle borough and amajuba districts.is costing the poor people in this prince to pay and pay. Non of these officials will disclose. I am now going to the hawks for investigation
To all Newcastillians :the bill in our municipal is stressful it increases monthly this month I ll be paying close to R5000 with myself and one child in for 3/4 of a month, by the way I live in Pioneer Park I seconded the idea of the formulation of a forum
Thats bullshit. Our account in Pioneer Park is almost double our home loan. Its ridiculous. We cannot afford it anymore
We are unhappy with the high electricity bill. This is totally unacceptable. We are pensioners and how do they expect us to pay this rediculous amount. Why are all the lights switched on at the municipality building for the whole night. Why must we be held responsible for the billions that was stolen from the municipality. This is unfair to us
Muncipilty tariffs far to high and these tariffs and rates should be revised as it making the community poor and poorer by the day.
I am staying in Arbor Park why did my bill wdng up with neatlg R800
I personally feel our municipality is ripping us off how will the majority of people that have lost their jobs make arrangements with municipality regarding payments they should just install prepaid meters and charge us rates, water and refuge which is also poorly conducted service is bad too sum it up our municipality is going down. The money they owe eskom what happend with that are they trying to make up the money for that
Mine is 5200 rand and every month it goes up and up we don’t use heaters or alot of water we are working and only after 5 at home the cravy train must stop