# Sarah Baartman

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/sarah-baartman-2/
- Published: 2023-04-10T10:55:49+02:00
- Author: dearSA

![](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/02144255/DearSouthAfrica-
Municipal-budgets-and-tariff-increases-1.jpg "DearSouthAfrica Municipal budgets 
and tariff increases")

![DEAR-SOUTH-AfFRICA](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/
02/08135845/DEAR-SOUTH-AfFRICA.png "DEAR-SOUTH-AfFRICA")

### Sarah Baartman District municipality (Blue Crane Route, Dr Beyers Naudé, Kouga, Koukamma, Makana, Ndlambe, Sundays River Valley) calls for public comment on proposed tariff increases, the draft budget and IDP

    - Proposed increases are available in the summary below

Scroll down to have your say

[click to view info, statements and documents ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/summary/#1649774481561-2dd31287-fbc1)

[click to view comments from other participants ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/comments)

## Have your say – shape the outcome.

**Do you agree with the proposed tariff/rates increases? (scroll down to view) **

**what is your concern? **

As you've selected 'All of the above', if you had to choose a top concern, what 
would it be?

**What is your preferred channel for feedback on this campaign?**

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**What is your status? (for our reporting purposes only) **

**Check your email address then hit send! You will be redirected to a confirmation
page. **

![D-icon](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11192438/
D-icon-40x40-1.png "D-icon-40x40")

### THE INCREASES ARE AS FOLLOWS

**Staff salaries **4.75%

The Sarah Baartman District is proving to be the home of some of the most extreme“
cost-reflective” tariff proposals in the Eastern Cape. While some municipalities
are showing discipline, others—specifically Blue Crane Route—are proposing hikes
that dwarf the national averages.

  |   |  **Property Rates** |  **Water 💧** |  **Refuse/San 🗑️** |  **Electricity (Dom) ⚡** |  
   |  **Blue Crane Route** (Somerset East) |  **10.0%** 🚩 |  **6.0%** |  **6.0%** |  **25.0%** 🚨 |  
 |  **Koukamma** (Kareedouw/Joubertina) |  **~4.5%** |  **~4.5%** |  **~4.5%** |  **15.5% – 24.5%** |  
 |  **Dr Beyers Naudé** (Graaff-Reinet) |  **3.7%** |  **3.7%** |  **3.7%** |  **14.0%** |  
 |  **Kouga** (J-Bay/St Francis) |  **4.5%** |  **6.5%** |  **5.0%** |  **9.01%** |  
 |  **Makana** (Makhanda) |  **4.5%** |  **4.5%** |  **4.5%** |  **10.92%** |  
 |  **Ndlambe** (Port Alfred) |  **~4.5%** |  **~4.5%** |  **~4.5%** |  **7.0%** |

    - _The Blue Crane Route 25% Shock:_ This is a massive “Red Flag.” Blue Crane
      Route is proposing a 25% electricity hike for domestic customers—nearly 6x
      the staff salary benchmark (4.75%). This is one of the highest in the country.
    - _Koukamma’s Inclining Block Tariff:_ Koukamma is hitting higher-volume users
      hard, with increases of up to 24.5% for blocks 2, 3, and 4. This effectively
      penalizes larger households or small businesses operating from home.
    - _The “Cost-Reflective” Justification:_ Both Dr Beyers Naudé and Blue Crane
      Route cite extensive Cost of Supply (CoS) studies to justify these jumps. 
      You can help your subscribers ask: “Is this the cost of supply, or the cost
      of municipal aging infrastructure debt?”
    - _Kouga’s Water Pressure:_ At 6.5%, Kouga’s water increase is higher than its
      neighbors. Given the region’s historical drought issues, residents are being
      asked to pay a premium for water security.

**Have we got the wrong information?**

[ send us the correct info](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/sarah-baartman-2/%20municipalinfo@dearsouthafrica.co.za?subject=correct%20info%20for%20Sarah%20Baartman%20increases)

[ view other municipalities](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/)