AfriForum demands transparency on Johannesburg Metro’s 65% increase in water demand management levy

AfriForum requests that the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality urgently explain how it justified the proposed increase of approximately 65,6% in its water demand management levy, warning that the increase not only places an unfair burden on paying residents, but may also be unlawful.

The water demand management levy is a flat fee added to every household’s monthly water bill to fund the operating costs of the water system, regardless of how much they actually consume. The City’s Mayoral Committee report of 27 March 2026 shows that this charge is proposed to jump from R65.08 to R107.74 per month for domestic users as part of the 2026/27 tariff amendments currently out for public consultation. For many residents already struggling with rising living costs, this means paying significantly more for the same service.

In a formal letter addressed to the municipality, AfriForum has requested detailed information on how this increase was calculated, including the underlying methodology, cost assumptions, and any supporting data or financial models. The organisation has also questioned whether the levy complies with the legal requirements of cost-reflectivity, transparency and fairness.

“Levies imposed by municipalities must be justifiable, transparent and based on sound financial principles,” says Deidré Steffens, AfriForum’s Advisor for Local Government Affairs. “Residents have the right to understand exactly how these charges are calculated and why they are necessary.”

AfriForum further warns that residents are increasingly being forced to carry the cost of municipal failures through rising fixed charges, while their own financial pressure continues to grow.

“How can the Metro justify a steep, fixed ‘demand management’ levy when nearly half the water it buys generates no revenue and a quarter is lost through leaks and bursts? The City is bleeding more than R2 billion a year through leaking infrastructure alone. Residents should not be forced to pay for that failure. Fixing leaks, not raising levies, must be the number one priority,” says Marais de Vaal, AfriForum’s Advisor for Environmental Affairs.

AfriForum encourages residents to submit formal comments on the proposed tariffs by no later than 18 May 2026 at 17:00. The organisation will continue to monitor the matter closely and insists that the City of Johannesburg provide clear, detailed and lawful answers. Should the municipality fail to adequately justify the increase, AfriForum will consider further steps to protect the interests of residents.