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"The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve then. If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough."
― Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President
Friend we have a whole session about why Cross subsidisation falling apart is detrimental to everyone ..
For our country it’s key ..
Replying to @Synesyfe
Also in GP because you have a huge majority that are not economically active, the cross subsidization model is extremely punitive to the middle class.
I have looked at - in detail ..
And I’m aware of their actual track record - not the PR ..
Which is why I’m genuinely shocked at how people could vote for them ? For me it’s stupidity at the highest level
Replying to @Synesyfe
One must study their election manifesto because that’s a key feature where they govern.
They took NERSA to court so they can charge higher electricity tariffs. Their tariffs are already the highest in the country.
This is so apt when it comes to looking at elections , just cause your boyfriend is cheating on you .. Doesn’t mean you need to date the person who brings you flowers ..
They have amnesia - and refuse to separate their Hatred of the ANC with actual common sense ..
Replying to @Synesyfe
People don’t realize that the DA has governed in JHB previously.
Speak to the people in Waterfall about what happened to their rates and taxes during that period.
How many middle class people were “forced” out of their homes because they couldn’t afford the upkeep.
Same CPT MO
Which landlord do you know has eaten up costs nje ? That’s a dream market view that doesn’t exist in real life ,. Land lords are ordinary people ..
Replying to @TowardsUhuru @Synesyfe
landlords may have to absorb some of those increases to remain competitive and avoid vacancies.
That's precisely my point about market forces. Different market forces are at play in Cape Town vs Johannesburg, hence the vast difference in prices.
Even land lords in the township pass on costs to tenants ..
This is the city of dreams folks want to be where economic opportunity is
Lrt .. I wish folks understand when you don’t see street lights shining a funding decision was made that this was not a priority cause it doesn’t bring in revenue and it’s a nice to have ..
When folks asked why JHB library was closed for so long - someone said that we have the internet and that people don’t have a need to read at the library ..
This was only recently - like 2026 .. and only due to treasury withholding the gran5 .. the effects of this we only going to see next year Jan onwards .. add the new wage bill ..
I used to serve on the advisory board of our city - and trust and believe the funding gap is large
Replying to @Synesyfe
But Johannesburg is already implementing council-approved plans to ring-fence water and electricity revenue under National Treasury's reforms. Godongwana confirmed this in his February 2026 Budget Speech. This isn't some uniquely DA proposal.
I accept that ring-fencing could ...
There is this false dichotomy that JHB if you exclude water and electricity , there is some massive savings that are going to be experienced .. this is false .. the city from a staff and basic opex is extremely underfunded .. so again ? I ask how do you find a whole
Replying to @TowardsUhuru @Synesyfe
create a funding gap elsewhere, but you haven't quantified that gap or demonstrated why higher property rates, rather than improved efficiency, better revenue collection and reduced wasteful expenditure, would be the only solution.
That’s the thing Cape Town has proved that they can if there is sufficient demand .. one can pass these things down ..
Again let’s forget landlords ordinary folks who see their additional costs increase on top of a high interest rate environment..
Replying to @TowardsUhuru @Synesyfe
Even if rates increase, landlords cannot simply pass unlimited costs onto tenants. Rentals are still constrained by market demand, vacancies and affordability.
And this assumes that the DA could even get such increases approved by a council it governs through a coalition.
Because for the most part those revenue streams subsidise other cost items - therefore if they are no longer available .. how will the gap be filled other than increase in rates ?
Replying to @Synesyfe
That's a more reasonable argument, but you're making a significant assumption.
Why must ring-fencing water and electricity revenue automatically translate into higher property rates?
Johannesburg collected only 85.3% of billed revenue in 2025/26 and overspent its operating ...
It’s not that property prices and rentals will suddenly become unaffordable. A key part of the DA’s manifesto is restoring fiscal balance through increased revenue collection..
The track record in Cape Town shows the doesnt tend to balance this with housing affordability.. so even though you can afford the bond .. the upkeep????




