'A budget for hard times': Tariff increases mostly below 4%

GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality's council adopted its 2026/27 budget and final review of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) on Thursday 28 May.

The DA-led coalition described it as a balanced and caring budget during difficult economic times.

However, the opposition parties sharply criticised it as disconnected from the realities struggling residents face.

Despite ongoing financial pressure on households nationally, George approved comparatively moderate increases for the new financial year.

Property rates will increase by 3.7%, as well as water, sanitation, refuse and other general tariffs.

Electricity tariffs, linked to Nersa guidelines, will increase by 7.88%.

Mayor Browen Johnson said the municipality had worked to keep the increases as low as possible while maintaining financial sustainability and service delivery.

Long-term resilience

Johnson said the budget aimed at protecting residents while continuing to invest in infrastructure and growth. He described the budget and IDP as "people-centred" and focused on long-term resilience, economic development and maintaining service standards across the city.

DA councillors Ebrahim America, Regina Windwaai, Marlene Barnardt and Johan Stander.

He also emphasised the municipality's intention to support vulnerable households through relief measures and free basic services.

The adopted IDP outlines the municipality's priorities over the coming years, including infrastructure upgrades, economic growth, housing development, environmental sustainability and improved service delivery.

Erika Brown (DA) and Nathaniel Edwards, a new DA PR councillor.

Opposition slams approved budget and IDP

Opposition parties recently rejected both the budget and IDP, and proposed an alternative "people's budget" for the new financial year.

In a joint statement, the PA, ANC, EFF, Good and PBI accused the DA-led coalition of governing for "political image and propaganda" rather than for the residents. The parties argued that tariff increases and fees would place further pressure on working families already battling rising living costs.

Marchell Kleynhans (left) and Samuel Vorster of the PA.

The opposition said communities in areas such as Conville, Parkdene, Rosemoor, Thembalethu, Uniondale and Haarlem continue to face deteriorating infrastructure, flooding, crime and limited opportunities for youth development.

Good councillor Rosa Louw also criticised the final review of the IDP and Municipal Spatial Development Framework, calling it "reactive, not strategic".

Vida Josephs and Rosa Louw (Good).

According to Louw, the municipality was failing to prioritise maintenance and bulk infrastructure repairs while demand for services continued to grow. She further argued that public participation had become "consultation theatre", claiming residents' input had little influence on the final documents.

The Good Party proposed that the municipality redirect funding towards maintenance and infrastructure repair over the next 24 months and align future development plans with realistic infrastructure capacity.

Good's Chantelle Kyd (front) and PA's Naelowine Esau and Francelin Kaptein.

Approved plan

Mayor Browen Johnson defended the approved financial plan as lawful, funded and sustainable, saying residents "deserve facts, not political rhetoric". He said the approved budget had been assessed by National Treasury and complies with the Municipal Finance Management Act.

"The suggestion that voting for this budget is voting against residents is simply not true," said Johnson. "Council voted in favour of a budget that provides relief, protects vulnerable households, invests in critical infrastructure, maintains service delivery, and remains fully funded and legally compliant."

Johnson warned that municipalities are legally prohibited from adopting unfunded budgets, arguing that some of the opposition's proposals rely on grants that are either already allocated, restricted in use, or no longer available.

"Simply listing projects and attaching grant names to them does not create funding," said Johnson. "Municipal budgets must comply with strict legislative requirements, grant conditions and financial regulations."

A gallery full of PA ssupporters! PA's Theresa Jeyi (middle, right) will soon be inaugurated as member of national parliament.

Traditional representatives in the gallery: In front are Luwayda Trantraal, Cynthia Fillies and Norman Marks. At the back are Hendrik van Staden and Blanche Benjamin.