Today, the KwaDukuza Council adopted the Final 2026/2027 Budget, which will determine what residents pay in tariffs for municipal services and rates rom 1 July 2026. We are delighted to report that the proposed rates increase in the draft budget of 6% has been cut in half, to a final increase in property rates of 3%. This follows robust engagement throughout the public budget consultation period at the ward-level imbizos, at a dedicated meeting between DOCRRA leadership and KDM Finance, as well as through written KORA representations from the DOCRRA finance subcommittee, led by Brian Botes.
“Negotiating on behalf of our members and residents on the budget is at the core of our mandate as an organisation and we are delighted that the final rates increase is just half of what was proposed in the draft budget,” DOCRRA Chairman, Deon Viljoen remarked. “In a moment where residents are under pressure from soaring fuel and food prices, this lower increase will ease the blow on ratepayers.”
“The approval of the budget and lower rates increase are not a finish line, but rather the beginning of a new period of oversight as we move into the next financial year,” Mary Kassam, DOCRRA COO shared. “Keeping a close eye on the spending of ratepayer money is a process that we remain committed to throughout the year at the many forums and engagements where we represent the interests of our community.”
“Let us not be under any illusion about what we are facing,” cautioned Brian Pottinger, DOCRRA Vice Chairman, “the financial sustainability crisis in terms of energy losses is going to require a gargantuan effort to turnaround in this financial year and the other services tariffs still strain consumers.”
DOCRRA wishes to thank our KORA partners, other civil society stakeholders, the iLembe Chamber of Commerce as well as political parties that have contributed meaningfully to the budget consultation process, keeping the people of KwaDukuza at the centre of their submissions.
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