ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAYOR XABA URGES RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR SERVICES AS HE TABLES R74.7 BILLION BUDGET
While presenting the City’s proposed R74.7 billion 2026-27 Budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to uMlazi communities today, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba has called on residents to pay for Municipal services to help sustain service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
Mayor Xaba also urged residents experiencing financial difficulties to engage with the Municipality and make payment arrangements.
The Mayor was speaking today, 11 May, at King Zwelithini Stadium, where thousands of uMlazi residents gathered for a public engagement on the proposed Draft Budget and IDP for the 2026-27 financial year.
He said the payment of Municipal bills is critical to sustaining service delivery and maintaining infrastructure.
“As the Municipality, we do not produce water ourselves. We purchase it from uMngeni-uThukela Water at a cost of R250 million every month and distribute it to residents. Similarly, we buy electricity in bulk from Eskom and supply it to communities. If residents do not honour their accounts, we risk being unable to maintain existing infrastructure and expand services to new developments,” said Mayor Xaba.
Mayor Xaba presented a proposed budget of R74.7 billion for the 2026/27 financial year to residents from Wards 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, and 111.
He also outlined several social relief measures aimed at assisting struggling ratepayers.
“Residential properties valued at up to R350 000 will be exempt from paying rates. Additional relief will also be available, upon application, to owners of residential properties valued between R350 000 and R750 000, provided the total household income does not exceed R7 000 per month,” he said.
The Mayor added that pensioners, child-headed households, disability grant recipients, and medically boarded property owners would also qualify for rates exemptions where their annual rates do not exceed the maximum rebate threshold of R5 290.
As part of the social relief package:
* The first six kilolitres of water will be provided free to properties valued below R350 000.
* Residential properties valued up to R350 000 will also be exempt from domestic refuse removal tariffs.
Major service delivery projects planned for the above mentioned wards include:
Ward 78: R3.7 million allocated for housing and hostel construction.
Ward 80: R23 million allocated for the replacement of a waste management compaction unit.
Ward 81: R3.2 million allocated for a housing project.
Ward 82: R4.3 million allocated for the refurbishment of the uMlazi Fire Station.
Ward 82: R15.2 million allocated for traffic safety improvements and the Griffiths Mxenge Highway intersection upgrade.
Ward 83: R3.5 million allocated for the construction of a pedestrian bridge.
Ward 83: R24 million allocated for housing and hostel construction.
Ward 84: R4.5 million allocated for the construction of the uMlazi Community Hall.
Ward 86: R14 million allocated for sanitation infrastructure repairs in uMlazi Y-Section.
Mayor Xaba further committed that the Municipality would continue addressing challenges related to electricity, roads, housing, water, and sanitation infrastructure.
He said the City would coordinate a comprehensive plan to tackle sewer system challenges across all wards.
The Draft IDP and Budget are available on the Municipality’s website at https://www.durban.gov.za
Feedback and comments can be submitted via email to comments2021@durban.gov.za
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
