AfriForum demands answers about excessive Mangaung tariff increases

AfriForum this week called the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to account in an urgent letter to the Municipal Manager Sello More over the excessive increases that have appeared on some residents’ municipal accounts since the introduction of the 2026/2027 tariffs.

Several residents, especially those on smallholdings, farms and in the surrounding areas of Bloemfontein such as Bainsvlei, have reported increases of several hundred percent. This comes while many communities are still receiving inadequate, unreliable or virtually no municipal services.

“It is unacceptable that residents are expected to pay more and more while they have to maintain roads themselves, arrange private refuse removal and finance alternative solutions for water, electricity and other basic services. In effect, residents are paying twice for services that the Metro should be providing,” says Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Bloemfontein.

AfriForum believes that irregularities such as these must be placed under the spotlight, and that the Metro owe residents an explanation on how these tariffs were calculated and approved, and why some properties are suddenly classified differently from before.

AfriForum demands that all accounts with abnormal increases be investigated immediately and that the disputed portions be suspended while formal disputes are considered. Incorrect valuations, property classifications, tariffs and retrospective charges must be corrected and credited without delay.

“The Constitution does not grant municipalities unlimited power to increase tariffs arbitrarily. Tariffs must be lawful, rational, fair and transparent. The Metro cannot simply pass on its financial and service delivery failures to paying residents,” Groenewald adds.

AfriForum has meanwhile requested an urgent meeting with More, the Chief Financial Officer and the relevant municipal departments to clarify the matter.

“The residents of Mangaung cannot keep paying more for less. Increased tariffs must be accompanied by accountability, transparency and measurable service delivery,” Groenewald concludes.

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is being mismanaged, and residents are paying the price. Sign AfriForum’s petition here to demand accountability.