Are you drowning in escalating municipal bills?

eNCA

12-05-2025

JOHANNESBURG - Municipal billing has been a headache for decades.
Residents in many parts of the country often complain about incorrect bills, either charged for things they didn't use or receiving inflated invoices bills they don't understand.
This leads to frustration and lack of trust in the system, and some end up refusing to pay the bills either because they cannot afford them or they feel they are paying for services they do not get.
Because of this, municipalities find themselves trapped in debt because of their poor revenue collection models, leaving them unable to provide basic services.
One example is water.
In November 2024, the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation revealed that Vaal Central and Magalies Water face bankruptcy due to R23.7 billion in municipal debt.
Then there is the long running saga of power cuts.
In February 2025, SCOPA announced that municipalities owe Eskom R94 billion.
This is a vicious cycle that hurts both residents and municipalities.
With more people complaining about their ballooning municipal bills, eNCA asked its viewers if they were drowning in escalating municipal bills.
This opened a floodgate of reactions with many voicing their frustrations.
One user on X Gabonewe Setshedi says rising municipal bills are unbearable, particularly for water and electricity services.
"These combined prices have increased significantly in my area and many parts of Tshwane. It's a significant concern for me."
Sharing the same sentiments is Ketlareng Sybil Matlhako who noted the challenge in the billing system.
"It's not possible to get a bill of water at R12 000 each month. The municipal bills have an impact on the ability of citizens to balance the already rising cost of living."
One user says they simply do not have money to pay for services they do not receive.
Carl Taylor on Facebook says this continued payment for services not rendered must be illegal and against the constitution.
Taylor's sentiments were also echoed by Shirley van Son, describes Tshwane as a slum with burst water pipes, raw sewage running down the roads, street lights that don't work, overgrown verges and pavements taken over by weeds.
Now Centurion is dealing with sinkholes.
"One gets references but nothing gets done to fix the problem. Paying for services we don't get," she said.
On eNCA's SA Morning Soapbox, reporters took to the streets of Cape Town and Johannesburg to give residents a chance to weigh in on the topic.
Many say the increasing cost of electricity, water, and property as well as rates and taxes, have added to their burden, forcing them into creative ways of budgeting to make ends meet.