Emfuleni residents revolt over shocking utility bills as ELM denies crisis

VANDERBIJLPARK - The Emfuleni Local Municipality is under fire as residents protest against shockingly high utility bills, with some charges reaching over R500,000, and in one case, more than R1-million. Angry residents marched to municipal offices, demanding urgent answers. Some claim they were billed despite having faulty or non-functional meters. Residents told eNCA the charges are unaffordable and wildly inconsistent with their normal consumption. One homeowner reported receiving a sudden bill of R894,000, while another was stunned by a bill for over R1.2-million. Despite the outrage, the municipality has denied facing a billing crisis, insisting its systems are working correctly. Officials say any discrepancies will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Civic groups, however, argue the problem is systemic and are calling for a full audit and provincial intervention. As financial pressure and public frustration rise, Emfuleni is facing growing demands for transparency and urgent corrective action.