Johannesburg (Foto: Shutterstock)
While Johannesburg’s residents are already suffering from poor service delivery, potholes, broken traffic lights, water and power cuts, from 1 July 2026 they will pay even more for the same poor service.
The proposed rate increases of 12.5% for water, 11% for sanitation and sewerage and 9.01% for electricity are well above the current inflation rate of around 4%. This follows Rand Water’s increase of 11% and Eskom’s increase of 9.01%.
During the metro’s department of environment, infrastructure and service delivery’s committee meeting, the FF Plus strongly objected to the proposed 11% increase in the sanitation and sewerage tariff.
“The FF Plus will not approve a budget with such excessive increases,” says Cor Boer, FF Plus councilor in the Johannesburg metro council. “There is no justification for raising rates higher than inflation.”
Boer believes that paying residents of Johannesburg have become the cash cow that has to bear the cost of massive water leaks and power losses as well as theft due to illegal connections.
“This situation is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated any longer. Unfortunately, the ANC-led coalition government in the metro lacks the political will to actually tackle the crises.”
The proposed fare increases are now available on the Johannesburg Metro website and open for public comment (email protected) be sent.
This will also be discussed during the integrated development plan (IDP) meetings that will take place from 7 to 14 May 2026.
The FF Plus encourages all residents to tune in to these virtual and physical meetings and make their displeasure heard clearly.
“The time to find real solutions is running out. With the local government elections around the corner, the FF Plus is ready to reverse the current dire situation in the metro. The FF Plus is calling on residents to register to vote and make the FF Plus their vote in the metro.”