# Zululand

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/budget-22-23/zululand-2/
- Published: 2023-04-09T21:02:25+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")

### Zululand District (AbaQulusi, eDembe, Nongoma, Ulundi, uPhongolo) municipality 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?**

**Your preferred language?**

**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 Zululand District Municipality (DC26) functions as the Water Services Authority(
WSA) for its entire region. This means while the local municipalities (like Abaqulusi
or Ulundi) manage property rates and refuse, the District Municipality itself determines
the cost and delivery of water 💧 and sanitation.

### THE INCREASES ARE AS FOLLOWS

**Staff salaries **4.75%

### Zululand District Municipality (Water & Sanitation)

Since the District manages water for all towns (including Vryheid, Pongola, and 
Ulundi), these figures apply to every resident in the district.

  |   |  **Proposed Increase (%)** |  **Context / Reason** |  
   |  **Water Provision** |  **~5.5% – 6.0%** |  Driven by the cost of water treatment chemicals and the “Generation Capacity Charge” for pump stations. |  
 |  **Sanitation** |  **~5.5% – 6.0%** |  Aligned with water hikes to maintain the aging sewer network. |  
 |  **Bulk Water Projects** |  **Allocated Capital** |  Focus remains on the **Mtubatuba/Hlabisa bulk water scheme** and rural reticulation. |

### Local Municipality Draft Increases (Electricity, Rates & Refuse)

While the District handles the water, your local council determines the costs for
your electricity, property rates, and trash collection.

  |   |  **Electricity (Domestic) ⚡** |  **Property Rates 🏠** |  **Refuse Removal 🗑️** |  
   |  **Abaqulusi (Vryheid)** |  **9.9%** 🚩 |  **4.5%** |  **4.5%** |  
 |  **Ulundi** |  **9.01%** |  **4.6%** |  **4.6%** |  
 |  **Nongoma** |  **9.01%** |  **4.5%** |  **4.5%** |  
 |  **uPhongolo** |  **9.01%** |  **4.5%** |  **4.5%** |  
 |  **eDumbe** |  **9.01%** |  **4.9%** |  **4.9%** |  
 |  **Staff Salary Benchmark** |  **4.75%** |  **4.75%** |  **4.75%** |

    - _Abaqulusi’s Electricity Markup (9.9%):_ Abaqulusi is a major point of interest.
      A Cost of Supply study originally suggested a 29% hike to account for overheads!
      🔌 While they’ve limited the draft to 9.9%, this is still nearly double the
      4.75% salary increase they are giving their own staff. 👔
    - _The “Unfunded” Risk:_ Several municipalities in Zululand (notably Nongoma
      and eDumbe) are under intense pressure from National Treasury due to historical
      financial distress. Their “low” 4.5% – 4.9% rates are a survival tactic to
      maintain collection levels in a struggling economy. 📉
    - _The Water vs. Salary Gap:_ At ~6%, the water hike is roughly 25% higher than
      the salary increase for the officials managing the service. Residents are 
      effectively being asked to pay for “operational inefficiencies” and high electricity
      costs for pump stations. 🚰

**Have we got the wrong information?**

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

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