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ActionSA has rejected the anti-poor Adjustment Budget tabled in Council today. While the budget includes several welcome initiatives to support community development, ActionSA’s primary concern remains the R230 electricity surcharge imposed on residents since 2024, which we believe to be entirely unjust and anti-poor.

ActionSA’s rejection of the budget today demonstrates our commitment to anchoring our engagements with other parties, whether at national, provincial or local level, firmly in the best interests of South Africans. When any government takes actions that contradict this principle, ActionSA will be the first and most vocal opposition.

Crucially, when ActionSA assumed its role in the legislative arm of the City of Johannesburg, we made it clear that our position is not that of a coalition partner, but one focused on providing support on an issue-by-issue basis, with our key priorities, which were non-negotiable, including the removal of former Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, the scrapping of the electricity surcharge, and a reinvigorated service delivery agenda.

Following Gwamanda’s removal, his successor, Cllr Dada Morero, committed to at least lowering the surcharge to more affordable levels. Regrettably, this budget does not accommodate that commitment. The failure to scrap or reduce this surcharge will only worsen the already dire living conditions of residents, particularly those in marginalised areas.

On the 25th of July 2024, Cllr Morero said, “Calls by residents and all affected parties for the City to review the R 200.00 charge due to tough and impactful economic challenges in the country has not fallen on deaf ears, the GLU commits to reviewing this charge while noting the importance of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades including the cost of supply studies done by City Power.”

While the budget includes some positive initiatives, such as addressing the Kya Sands Landfill debacle, passing it with the inclusion of the surcharge would be a betrayal of Johannesburg residents. ActionSA cannot support a budget that fails to provide meaningful relief to those who continue to endure harsh socio-economic conditions.

Importantly, ActionSA engaged in robust efforts to reverse the surcharge, including direct communication with the executive. However, the executive chose to ignore all the submissions we presented, despite them being made in the best interest of residents.

As a solutions-oriented party, ActionSA has presented a range of solutions to the Executive on how the City could replenish its revenue coffers without unduly burdening residents and their diminishing disposable income. Sadly, none of our suggestions were taken into account.

ActionSA is deeply disappointed that this matter remains unresolved, placing an undue burden on the residents of Johannesburg, particularly low-income households and small businesses.

ActionSA cannot stand by in such circumstances and will always oppose any item in Council that does not prioritise the residents of Johannesburg. At the same time, we are fully prepared to support any item that places the best interests of residents first.

Issued by ActionSA COJ Deputy Chief Whip Lebo Modukanene