ActionSA rejects, with reservations, the anti-poor Adjustment Budget tabled in Council today. Whilst the budget has many positives that would help develop our communities, our main concern is the R230 electricity surcharge that residents have been subjected to since 2024.
When ActionSA took positions in the legislative arm of the CoJ, we made it clear that we will vote on an issue-by-issue basis with two significant demands – the removal of former Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and the scrapping of the electricity surcharge. This was a call made in the interests of Johannesburg residents.
Mayor Gwamanda was removed and his successor, Clir Dada Morero committed to, at least lowering the surcharge to affordable levels. ActionSA has made concessions in this regard, requesting that the City adopts a phased surcharge reduction, in order to ensure the fiscal viability of Joburg.
On the 25th of July 2024, Clir Morero said, “Calls by residents and all affected parties for the City to review the R 200.00 charge due to tough and impactful economic challenges in the country has not fallen on deaf ears, the GLU commits to reviewing this charge while noting the importance of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades including the cost of supply studies done by City Power.”
This budget does not cater for this commitment. Failure to scrap or reduce this surcharge is bound to further exacerbate the dire living condition of residents of the City, especially those in marginalized areas.
Despite the many positives that this budget seeks to address – such as addressing the Kya Sands Landfill debacle, provisions of equipment for Public Safety and the Political Facilitated Agreement – voting to pass it, in its current form, would be a betrayal to Joburg residents at the expense of keeping lush positions and benefits in the municipality. ActionSA cannot be party to such betrayal to Joburg residents who must still grapple with the harsh socio economic conditions they are subjected to.
It is worth noting that robust engagements to reverse the surcharge were conducted which include direct communication with the executive, however, the executive opted to ignore all the submissions presented to them.
ActionSA has provided wide-ranging solutions to the Executive on how the City could replenish its revenue coffers without unnecessarily throttling residents and their dwindling disposable income.
None of our suggestions were taken into account.
We would like to remind the ANC-led government, that ActionSA is not in a coalition government and will always place the interests of the residents ahead of political expediency.
ActionSA will never deviate from its principles in return for municipal positions; we will stand first in line of defence of the residents. Consequently, we will not allow any government to act against the interests of the very residents that we have pledged to serve.
ActionSA is deeply disappointed that this matter remains unresolved, placing an undue burden on the residents of Johannesburg, particularly low-income households and small businesses.
ActionSA will continue to vote for any item in council that places the residents of Johannesburg first.
ActionSA Rejects Anti-Poor Adjustment Budget Due to R230 Electricity Surcharge, Welcomes Positive Interventions Contained
ActionSA rejects, with reservations, the anti-poor Adjustment Budget tabled in Council today. Whilst the budget has many positives that would help develop our communities, our main concern is the R230 electricity surcharge that residents have been subjected to since 2024.
When ActionSA took positions in the legislative arm of the CoJ, we made it clear that we will vote on an issue-by-issue basis with two significant demands – the removal of former Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and the scrapping of the electricity surcharge. This was a call made in the interests of Johannesburg residents.
Mayor Gwamanda was removed and his successor, Clir Dada Morero committed to, at least lowering the surcharge to affordable levels. ActionSA has made concessions in this regard, requesting that the City adopts a phased surcharge reduction, in order to ensure the fiscal viability of Joburg.
On the 25th of July 2024, Clir Morero said, “Calls by residents and all affected parties for the City to review the R 200.00 charge due to tough and impactful economic challenges in the country has not fallen on deaf ears, the GLU commits to reviewing this charge while noting the importance of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades including the cost of supply studies done by City Power.”
This budget does not cater for this commitment. Failure to scrap or reduce this surcharge is bound to further exacerbate the dire living condition of residents of the City, especially those in marginalized areas.
Despite the many positives that this budget seeks to address – such as addressing the Kya Sands Landfill debacle, provisions of equipment for Public Safety and the Political Facilitated Agreement – voting to pass it, in its current form, would be a betrayal to Joburg residents at the expense of keeping lush positions and benefits in the municipality. ActionSA cannot be party to such betrayal to Joburg residents who must still grapple with the harsh socio economic conditions they are subjected to.
It is worth noting that robust engagements to reverse the surcharge were conducted which include direct communication with the executive, however, the executive opted to ignore all the submissions presented to them.
ActionSA has provided wide-ranging solutions to the Executive on how the City could replenish its revenue coffers without unnecessarily throttling residents and their dwindling disposable income.
None of our suggestions were taken into account.
We would like to remind the ANC-led government, that ActionSA is not in a coalition government and will always place the interests of the residents ahead of political expediency.
ActionSA will never deviate from its principles in return for municipal positions; we will stand first in line of defence of the residents. Consequently, we will not allow any government to act against the interests of the very residents that we have pledged to serve.
ActionSA is deeply disappointed that this matter remains unresolved, placing an undue burden on the residents of Johannesburg, particularly low-income households and small businesses.
ActionSA will continue to vote for any item in council that places the residents of Johannesburg first.