The Nelson Mandela Bay Council has passed the operating budget for the 2019/2020 financial year, meaning that residents will now be paying between 7% and 13% more for municipal services.
The budget was adopted on Friday by a majority of 61 councillors after no less than five attempts, thanks to the support of Patriotic Alliance Councillor, Marlon Daniels.
After initially vowing not to support the budget vote after receiving threats, Daniels did an about turn after being offered a position on mayor Mongameli Bobani's mayoral committee.
The Democratic Alliance and the ACDP voted against the R12.6bn budget.
Meanwhile, also in Council were the MEC's for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Xolile Nqata, and Finance MEC, Mlungisi Mvoko.
Speaking to the media afterwards, MEC Nqata said they were there as part of their "oversight" function.
"We have been quite concerned about recent developments, particularly the last Council which collapsed. We thought it important that we should come here and observe the proceedings of this Council and see how it goes," he said.
The proposed tariff increases are as follows:
- Property Rates Tax: 7.7%
- Water: 7.5%
- Sanitation: 7.5%
- Refuse: 7.5%; and,
- Electricity: 13.04% (On average pending NERSA approval)
