Latest news with #CoJ
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ's R200 prepaid electricity surcharge extended for another financial year
JOHANNESBURG - There is no good news for prepaid electricity customers in Johannesburg, as the R200 surcharge has been extended for another financial year. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds confirmed during her budget speech on Wednesday that the surcharge was here to stay. It was first implemented in July 2024, causing public outrage about soaring electricity prices. ALSO READ: - CoJ allocates more than R5bn to address water challenges over next three years - City of Joburg's Finance MMC tables R89bn budget - ActionSA says won't support CoJ budget unless R200 electricity surcharge scrapped The City of Johannesburg expects to generate R25 billion in electricity revenue in the next financial year, which is a 12.5% increase from the current fiscal period. A significant driver of this increase is the controversial R200 surcharge imposed on prepaid electricity users. Although the surcharge adds to the financial burden on residents, Arnolds said that maintaining it at R200 was in the best interest of taxpayers. "We refuse to allow economic pressure to push our people further into the margins. That is why we are holding the prepaid electricity surcharge unchanged at R200, excluding VAT - a deliberate act to protect the poor against rising energy costs. "This budget makes it clear: we will not govern in a way that reproduces inequality. Our pro-poor programme is a political choice rooted in the values of equity, dignity, and redress. It is a signal that in the City of Johannesburg, no one will be left behind. Not on our watch." She said that other metros in the country also imposed a similar electricity surcharge, and claimed that Johannesburg remained more affordable in comparison.
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ sets aside R4.6bn to improve electricity infrastructure
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg wants to improve its electricity infrastructure to meet growing demand, with R4.6 billion set aside towards achieving this. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds announced the allocation during her budget speech in council on Wednesday. ALSO READ: CoJ's R200 prepaid electricity surcharge extended for another financial year Although the funds will be allocated over the next three years, the metro is confident they will significantly help resolve its electricity infrastructure issues. Arnolds outlined the additional areas where the R4.6 billion would be directed. "The budget allocates R4.6 billion to City Power over the next three years to fast-track the following four categories: stabilising the grid to prevent collapse, strengthening of the network to improve efficiency, the expansion of the grid to meet growing demand, prevent system collapse due to the ever-growing and changing energy landscape and to ensure revenue enhancement and reduction of technical losses."
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
City of Joburg's Finance MMC tables R89bn budget
JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds has tabled an R89 billion budget for the upcoming financial year. Arnolds delivered her maiden budget speech in the council in Braamfontein this morning. Electricity and water remain the metro's biggest sources of revenue, with property rates and taxes also bringing in some money. Despite ongoing challenges with revenue collection, the City of Johannesburg has proposed an increased budget, rising from R83 billion to R89 billion. READ: CoJ wants to incerase electricity surcharge to R270 a month The primary driver of this growth in total revenue is the rise in service charges, mostly for water and electricity. Additional increases in refuse collection fees and property rates have also contributed to the city's boosted revenue. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds has confirmed that the budget is fully funded. 'Revenue for 2025/26 reflects a 9.3% increase compared to the previous year. This increase is primarily driven by service charges, which account for the largest share of the city's revenue base.' She says the city now has to focus on boosting its revenue collection efforts.
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ allocates more than R5bn to address water challenges over next three years
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has allocated more than R5 billion to be spent over the next three years to address water supply challenges. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds announced this allocation during her maiden budget speech in council on Wednesday morning. READ: City of Joburg's Finance MMC tables R89bn budget The R5 billion capital injection to Johannesburg Water will be channelled towards addressing infrastructure failures and pipe replacements. Arnolds said the money wold also go towards funding major wastewater treatment plants in the metro. "The city will also invest in smart pressure management systems and digital leak detection tools, reducing water loss and increasing service reliability." She expanded further on how the cash would be put to use. "Targeted water pipe replacements in high-leakage zones to reduce non-revenue water, new sewer connections to informal settlements and densified townships, international DFI financing for upgrade of leaking reservoirs and towers, which also contributes to reduced losses."
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
ActionSA says won't support CoJ budget unless R200 electricity surcharge scrapped
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA in Johannesburg has announced it will not support the metro's proposed budget if it includes a R200 electricity surcharge. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds is scheduled to deliver her budget speech in council at midday. The party is one of several in the municipal council urging the metro to ease the burden of rising electricity costs on residents. READ: CoJ wants to incerase electricity surcharge to R270 a month When ActionSA agreed to join the African National Congress (ANC)'s camp in 2024, one of its key conditions was the removal of the R200 electricity surcharge. The ANC had assured ActionSA, the surcharge would be scrapped before the start of the new financial year, which starts on 1 July. However, Mayor Dada Morero announced during his State of the City Address earlier in May that the surchage is here to stay. It's for this reason that ActionSA chief whip, Lebo Modukanene said the party won't back the budget. 'We saw in the adjustment budget that it was not scrapped, and they said it would be scrapped in the budget, but we are still going to find the surcharge. This means more strain or burden will still be placed on residents to fund this budget.' She said the surcharge was a deal breaker for ActionSA's relationship with the ANC.
