The eThekwini Municipality’s Finance Committee billing report for February 2026 has sparked outrage among councillors and residents, with 64,147 water meters estimated and 57,024 electricity meters estimated. This has led to widespread criticism of the municipality’s billing system, with many residents receiving inflated bills.
According to the report, 524,760 water meters were read, while 309,583 electricity meters were read. However, the high number of estimated meters has raised concerns about the accuracy of the billing system. The South African Government has emphasized the importance of accurate billing in ensuring that residents are not unfairly charged.
Estimated Billing: A Reflection of Failure
Jameel Essop, eThekwini councillor representing the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), claimed that the report was ‘a reflection of failure’. He highlighted that the municipality’s inability to read meters accurately was a major concern, and that the estimated billing system was unfair to residents.
Ngiphiwe Xulu, eThekwini DA councillor, also criticized the estimated billing system, saying that it was distorting the actual amounts residents were being billed. She highlighted the case of a 65-year-old resident in Clermont who received a bill of R3,200, despite living a simple life with minimal electricity usage.
Rebates and Concessions
The report stated that different rebates were given to qualifying customers, including senior citizens, child-headed households, and disability grantees. However, Xulu pointed out that the indigent rebate, intended for the most vulnerable residents, reached only 190 individuals in February, despite a population of nearly four million.
Here are some key statistics from the report:
- 64,147 water meters were estimated
- 57,024 electricity meters were estimated
- 22,941 faulty meters were reported to maintenance
- 15,889 meters were disconnected
- 58,327 senior citizens received rebates
- 1 child-headed household received a rebate
- 855 disability grantees received rebates
The eThekwini Municipality needs to address the concerns surrounding the estimated billing system and ensure that residents are billed accurately. As the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides grants to vulnerable residents, it is essential that the municipality’s billing system is fair and transparent.
