It happens every year. Why should 2025 be any different?

Early information about COJ tariffs are that the flat fee on a pre-paid meter will increase to R250, and the cost per unit will go up about 13%

For post paying users the flat fees will stay the same, but per unit costs will also increase - I think I read 16%

No more free allocation of water. Currently households get 6kl per month free of charge. That's going, though the charge for that amount will be kept low.

Since the City has an obligation under the constitution to provide residents with water, I suppose there will be another relief that people can apply for - assuming that they know it exists.

Sometime in April there will be the mandatory feedback sessions. I have posted before about my experience last year. How the poor areas had themselves organised and figured out what suggestions they wanted to make, knew who all the MMC members were etc, whilst very few attend from middle class areas like the one I live in and from wealthier areas, let alone participate.

That needs to change. The executive committee are bound to listen to our feedback (as long as it's polite), and it's no help for me and my neighbours if nobody goes along to give any.

9 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

It happens every year. Why should 2025 be any different?

Early information about COJ tariffs are that the flat fee on a pre-paid meter will increase to R250, and the cost per unit will go up about 13%

For post paying users the flat fees will stay the same, but per unit costs will also increase - I think I read 16%

No more free allocation of water. Currently households get 6kl per month free of charge. That's going, though the charge for that amount will be kept low.

Since the City has an obligation under the constitution to provide residents with water, I suppose there will be another relief that people can apply for - assuming that they know it exists.

Sometime in April there will be the mandatory feedback sessions. I have posted before about my experience last year. How the poor areas had themselves organised and figured out what suggestions they wanted to make, knew who all the MMC members were etc, whilst very few attend from middle class areas like the one I live in and from wealthier areas, let alone participate.

That needs to change. The executive committee are bound to listen to our feedback (as long as it's polite), and it's no help for me and my neighbours if nobody goes along to give any.

On the point of the city has the obligation to provide people with water as per the constitution. We the average citizens interpret that as meaning there is a right to free water via the 6kl allocation that is now going away.

Looking at social media commentary around the allocation being removed, it's not a stretch that the majority of people are in agreement.

But it turns out that they are not in contravention. The legal interpretation is in the wording access to water.

As long as there is a supply line to your dwelling capable of receiving water it's within the framework of the constitution apparently.

This is how they are allowed to cut off water supply. They have technically not removed access to water, it's still sitting on the other side of the valve.

I only recently learned of this technicality as I always wondered how they could cut people off from water completely.

37 minutes ago, MrBeauvedere said:

But it turns out that they are not in contravention. The legal interpretation is in the wording access to water.

As long as there is a supply line to your dwelling capable of receiving water it's within the framework of the constitution apparently.

I once didn't pay my bill. It was my stupid mistake. I saw the arrears on my account and decided that
A) the city were fools
B) they would realise their foolishness and correct

A couple of months went by. One day I returned home, turned on the tap, and this very slow dribble came out. I tried another tap (one may be blocked). Went outside and tried the garden tap. Then I went to the little box in the street where my meter is and saw that some device had been fitted.

Turns out that City were in the process of disconnecting me. They had started with the water, but they weren't allowed to completely disconnect me. But they could reduce the supply so that I couldn't take a shower, it would take all day to have a bath, but I did have access to water. After all, if I turned a tap on, water DID come out. Not a lot, but I couldn't say I had no access.

Which fits with what you say.

Now it looks like a draft budget was leaked. COJ have said they are drawing up a new budget. So there's another draft with the 6kl back, no increase on flat fees per electricity meter.

I suspect we'll still end up paying more for something.