Recent municipal rate and tariff increases, especially electricity, are placing significant strain on households across the Helderberg basin, with residents describing the impacts as “unaffordable” and “difficult to keep up with”.
The City of Cape Town’s new municipal tariff structure, implemented from 1 July, introduces fixed charges for water, sanitation and a new city-wide cleaning tariff, determined by property value. At present water and electricity connections are uniform across all households.
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette canvased locals for their thoughts.
Strand-inwoner RODLIN BENN het sy ontevredenheid met die elektrisiteitsprysverhoging uitgespreek. Sy hoofbekommernis is dat baie mense nie die verhoogde pryse kan bekostig nie, veral gegewe die hoë werkloosheidsvlakke in die land. Hy meen daar is ook onsekerheid oor die presiese redes vir die verhoging en of daar werklik ekstra dienste gelewer word. Hoewel hy nie konkrete syfers kan gee oor hoeveel meer hy nou betaal nie omdat hy nog nie die berekening gedoen het nie, is die finansiële druk wel vergroot.“Dis belaglik!” meen RIYAAD SAMUELS, ‘n visserman van die Rusthof-gemeenskap. “Die werk is skaars, geld is skaars en hier gaan die kragtariewe op. Dis moeilik om by te hou.” Samuels vertel in ‘n neutedop dat waar hy voorheen gelewe het van R120 se krag ‘n dag, moet hy nou R150, R30 meer daagliks, opdok. Hy het verder sy ontevredenheid uitgespreek deur te sê dat “hulle mal is”, wat verwys na diegene wat verantwoordelik is vir die prysverhoging.JEANNETTE GORDON is an 80-year-old Strand resident who runs a small baking business to supplement her pension income. The electricity price increases are significantly impacting her ability to operate, forcing her to reduce production of her weekly 18 litres of ginger beer and made-to-order biscuits. “I have had to cut down on using electrical appliances because the rising costs are affecting my finances and preventing me from meeting customer demand,” she explained. Gordon reiterated that the increased electricity expenses were directly reducing her supplementary income, which she relied on alongside her pension.AXOLILE GEORGE of Pholile Park managed to keep his electricity costs low at only R70. He explained achieving this through minimal cooking, using a two-plate stove and boiling water instead of having a geyser for hot water. George lives in an informal structure with an Eskom electricity meter. Asked about concerns over electricity-price increases, he acknowledged being worried but felt the impact won’t be too significant for people who, like him, are able to adapt to rising electricity costs through extremely conservative usage patterns and basic living arrangements.TANYA DANIELS, who will be relocating to Somerset West, expressed deep frustration about electricity costs, especially those affecting elderly people. The 62-year-old argued that the government should provide electricity support to pensioners, suggesting 500-plus free units monthly, as current pensions are inadequate. She’s particularly upset about having to switch electricity off at night to save money, which she feels is undignified for elderly people. Her anger is directed at government officials who she believes live luxuriously while neglecting the elderly. She calls for more respect from government and financial support for senior citizens, viewing the current situation as a failure to honour those who contributed to society throughout their working years.MILANI VAN HEESE handhaaf ‘n huishouding met vyf mense, insluitend drie kinders, en deel dat hulle ‘n ekstra R300 tot R400 per maand spandeer aan elektrisiteit vanweë prysverhoings. Die familie sukkel veral in die winter om klere droog te kry terwyl hulle probeer om elektrisiteitsverbruik minimaal te hou. “Hoewel ons onnodige ligte afskakel en toestelle minimaal gebruik, bly dit moeilik,” het sy gesê. Van Heese het voorts erken dat daar min alternatiewe is en dat mense net aanhou deurdruk in die omstandighede, veral gedurende winter wanneer meer krag benodig word.
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