Public resistance to steep municipal tariff hikes is gaining national momentum, sparked by Cape Town residents strong opposition to proposed increases in rates and services.
A petition that has already garnered over 10 000 signatures may serve as a catalyst for a broader, countrywide movement.
Non-Profit Organisation, Dear South Africa, led by founder Rob Hutchinson, is taking the charge by planning to reach out to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs COGTA and other local government departments to challenge the hikes, which are scheduled to come into effect on 1 July 2025.
Hutchinson explains that the public engagement goes beyond typical petitioning, The objective is more than a petition, although there are several petitions running as such. This is, as I said, proper public participation, where the city or municipality calls for comment on their draft budget. And the budgets arent set in stone until the voice of the public or the opinions of the public or various homeowners organisations are taken into account.
He emphasises that Dear South Africa is collecting and forwarding all individual public comments, inputs, and proposals to ensure there is a transparent record of opposition.