eThekwini budget focuses on infrastructure fix, economic growth

By Akani Nkuna

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality’s budget has been trimmed to R70.9 billion, down from the initially proposed R71.3 billion, following tariff adjustments aimed at aligning spending with updated revenue forecasts.

eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba spoke about the revision during a post-budget business breakfast in Durban on Wednesday, emphasizing that the adjustment, though modest, reflects the municipality’s commitment to fiscal discipline without compromising core service delivery in infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

“We fully appreciate the challenges our people face as a result of the difficult economic climate, we were able to make changes to the final budget and reduced our tariffs,” said Xaba.

Following negotiations with Umgeni-uThukela Water—which reduced its tariff increase from 13% to 11%—eThekwini has lowered its proposed water and sanitation tariff hikes.

The domestic water tariff increase was reduced from 15% to 13%, and the business water tariff from 16% to 14%. Sanitation tariffs were also