After August 8, we may witness ratepayers’ associations from across the city institute legal action against the Buffalo City Municipality’s (BCM) electricity tariff increases if, after 14 days, the metro does not agree to measures that could soften the financial blow for residents.
On Thursday last week, ratepayers association (RA) chairs brought their concerns regarding the electricity price increases to a meeting with mayor Princess Faku, in which the mayor remained committed to the implementation of steep service charges standing at R432,40 for prepaid consumers and R763,60 for credit/post paid consumers, vat included.
Faku has however requested from RA chairs to provide the municipality with ways that the municipality can meet consumers halfway, to which the municipality will respond after 14 days.
Beacon Bay RA chair Scott Roebert believes that inspections of electricity meters and electrical infrastructure needs to be intensified so that the precedent is not set for ratepayers to bare the responsibility for recouping the municipality’s electricity deficit, which is swelling towards R1bn by the end of this financial year.
Roebert said the mayor’s plan to provide amnesty to consumers who tampered with electricity meters was short-sighted without punitive measures.
Roebert said: “We are going to propose that the mayor’s amnesty plan must be accompanied by inspections conducted by BCMM infrastructure services officials and BCMM law enforcement to ensure that tampering with electricity meters stops.
“The inspections need to be conducted by principled officials who will not enable corruption and the impediment of law to flourish, as BCMM cannot pass the burden on to the same people time and again.
“From a water world without water to a white elephant or a swimming pool in Mdantsane, the list of wasted projects is endless. There needs to be an independent audit of projects to ensure they are correctly priced so that the ratepayers are getting value and (the projects are) not just enriching the few.
“It seems that BCM are digging in their heals with these tariffs, which is enraging the community, as they feel BCM are not interested in making any improvements or internal changes to improve the situation. We want value for our spend.”
University of Pretoria public management and administration senior lecturer Dr Mary Mangai said for the amnesty plan to be effective in recovering revenue, it should be part of a broader strategy including clear communication, an accessible application process, and long-term measures such as improved monitoring and better service delivery.
“To improve collection rates, municipalities can deploy advanced metering infrastructure, offer flexible payment options, and engage with the community to address barriers to payment. Preventing future tampering requires tamper-proof technologies, regular inspections, community awareness and education, and a clear policy on penalties for future tampering.
“A comprehensive approach is necessary to foster long-term compliance and mutual respect between the municipality and its residents.”
Gonubie RA chair Henri Smit said legal action would be considered if, after 14 days, the mayor does not concede to scrapping the cost of supply charge, which Smit said is likely given that on Thursday, the officials seemed set on implementing the charges.
Smit said: “The mood at our meetings was that failing a positive response, we would pursue legal action and hold the officials personally responsible for the legal costs.
“This new charge will have a huge impact on the average working class ratepayer. The elderly and unemployed can apply for rebates and people who are illegally connected can apply for amnesty but the everyday working class must now pay extra for their legal prepaid meters.”
On Monday, ActionSA handed in their petition opposing the electricity charges which has been signed by 6,032 ratepayers.
The petition calls for BCMM to halt the implementation of the charges citing that similar charges in City of Joburg are being reconsidered following outcry from the public.

I have to pay an extra R763 per month. That is more than my actual usage. I live on my own and use electricity sparingly to save cost. The only way I can afford this is by cancelling my armed response. I live on a very tight budget. This is a huge blow to many, many residents that do not have the funds to cover such an obscene amount.
I am so sorry for this Maggie, would you be willing to talk to us about how the electricity increases have impacted you since you posted this message?