Hundreds of frustrated residents took to the streets of the Durban CBD on Wednesday morning in a protest against eThekwini Municipality’s proposed double-digit tariff increases, warning that struggling households cannot afford soaring municipal costs amid worsening service delivery failures.

The march, led by the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), began at Curries Fountain Sports Grounds before protesters made their way through the city centre to the Durban City Hall, where a memorandum of demands was handed over to a municipal official.

The demonstration drew support from several civic organisations and political parties, including the Overport Ratepayers Association, Sydenham Ratepayers Association, ActionSA, Freedom Front Plus, and uMkhonto weSizwe Party, alongside ward 34 councillor, Andrew Akkers.

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Speaking before the march commenced, ERPM chairman, Asad Gaffar accused the municipality of failing to properly consult residents on the proposed budget and tariff increases.

“What we are saying is the municipality hasn’t declared everything in this budget for us to give valuable input. Because they haven’t given us all the information, we are saying we are not accepting this budget and we are not accepting the tariff increase,” said Gaffar.

He said ordinary residents were already drowning under the pressure of rising living costs.

“The municipality is supposed to look after its citizens, not punish its citizens. By doing these double-digit tariff increases, they are actually punishing the citizens,” he said.

Sydenham Ratepayers Association chairperson, Carl Lorton, said residents, particularly pensioners, were battling to survive while paying increasingly high municipal bills.

“Our residents just can’t afford these tariff increases. To go into double digits, way above inflation, is just not on. Service delivery is also not up to scratch. We have water leaks, sewerage spills and potholes everywhere,” said Lorton.

Ward 34 councillor, Andrew Akkers, said communities across eThekwini were rejecting the proposed budget.

“The cost of living for our residents is astronomical and out of control. A tariff increase is not going to help our residents at all,” he said.

The protest came a day after ERPM leaders met with eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

However, talks ended in a deadlock. In a statement issued after the meeting, ERPM said it had presented a fully costed alternative budget proposal with a zero percent tariff increase while identifying R263 million in savings.

The movement also raised concerns over non-revenue water losses, failed infrastructure, and unresolved backdated water charges, warning that rolling mass action could follow should the city fail to respond to its demands.

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Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipality said Mayor Xaba had engaged with ERPM as part of efforts to gather stakeholder input before the final budget is tabled later this month.

The municipality said the mayor had written to national ministers requesting Eskom and uMngeni-uThukela Water to reconsider proposed tariff increases for the 2026/27 financial year, describing them as unaffordable for residents.

Despite this, protesters vowed that Wednesday’s march was only the beginning of broader resistance against the proposed increases.