Members of the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement take to the streets of Durban to raise their discontent with the proposed tariff increases for services put up by the eThekwini Municpality.
Image: Sipho Jack
Durban residents are set to take their frustrations to the streets on Wednesday as the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) marches to the Durban City Hall, demanding urgent intervention over rising municipal bills and deteriorating service delivery.
The movement plans to march from Curries Fountain Stadium to City Hall, where members will hand over a memorandum to city officials outlining their demands for immediate relief and accountability.
ERPM warned that the protest could mark the beginning of broader rolling mass action if the municipality fails to address residents’ concerns.
The organisation accused the city of failing to adequately respond to grievances raised by ratepayers and residents, particularly over proposed tariff increases and worsening municipal services.
The protest follows a recent engagement between ERPM and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, which reportedly ended in a stalemate over the proposed tariff hikes.
ERPM maintains that many residents are already under severe financial pressure and cannot afford additional increases.
“ERPM notes with deep concern that the eThekwini leadership appears fundamentally disconnected from the lived realities of the ratepayers and residents it is mandated to serve,” the organisation said in a recent statement.
The march has attracted support from several political parties, including ActionSA, MK Party and Freedom Front Plus.
ERPM further argued that viable alternatives to the city’s proposed budget exist, claiming its alternative proposal would result in a zero percent tariff increase while potentially saving the municipality R263 million.
According to the movement, adopting the alternative budget would ease the financial burden on residents while delivering a more favourable fiscal outcome than the municipality’s current proposal.
DAILY NEWS