The civil rights organisation, AfriForum, challenges Joburg Metro over water levy increase
AfriForum says the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is obstructing meaningful public participation in the budget process by refusing to disclose the basis for the proposed 65.6% increase in the water demand management levy. The civil rights organisation has instructed its legal team to send a formal letter of demand to the Metro in this regard.
Last week AfriForum requested the Metro to provide information to justify the proposed increase in the water demand management levy for domestic users from R65.08 to R107.74 per month. The Metro’s own Mayoral Committee report of 27 March 2026, which proposed the 2026/27 municipal tariffs, provides no meaningful explanation or supporting cost analysis for the substantial increase.
However, instead of providing an explanation, the Metro insisted that AfriForum submit a formal application for information in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).
AfriForum describes this response as nothing more than a delay tactic designed to undermine meaningful and transparent public participation in the Metro’s budgeting process.
