Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Residents oppose water tariff hike
SUSAN Lewis, a District Six resident, said: “It’s just me and my daughter and she is not working. This increase is ridiculous, we can’t afford it. It seems as if the DA wants us to sit out on the street. We’ve tried our best to save water and we’re getting punished for that. (Mayor) Patricia de Lille wasn’t thinking straight when she came up with this. I think she has much to do with it.”
Another resident, Ishmael Dudley, said: “The increase is total madness. It’s just daylight robbery. Firstly, they asked us to save water and gave us limits… All of a sudden now they want to increase tariffs depending on the value of your house.
Sandra Dickson, of the Dear Cape Town/Stop COCT group, said the group was conducting statistical analysis of the City’s budget document, which was more than 1 000 pages long. “Up to now, we have sent the City 18 600 comments (via e-mail) objecting to the tariff increase.”
The group had created a website encouraging people to take part in the public participation process, which was at its weakest since 2009. She said it was shocking that rate increases in Ekurhuleni were zero, while Cape Town’s ballooned to 26%.
Judge Kruger, the founder of #SaveCapeTown, said the City would be extorting its residents. Kruger handed over three memorandums in Parliament. The public protector’s office accepted them.