eThekwini Metro Municipal mayor James Nxumalo on Tuesday presented a R41.6-billion budget for the 2016/17 year, up from R39.1-billion in the previous year.

Presenting the budget at the Durban City Hall, Nxumalo said that it took account of expected constraints caused by the current economic climate but also aimed to address the needs of the city’s residents.

The city would spend R6.2-billion on capital projects while R34.9-billion would be spent on operating costs.

Not only would the city’s ratepayers see their rates increase, their water and electricity tariffs would also increase.

The budget was the last that Nxumalo was likely to present as he is no longer the chairman of the African National Congress’s eThekwini region, and therefore unlikely to be mayor of the metro following the August 3 local government elections.

“We were here deployed and it was an honour to serve,” Nxumalo said to loud cheers as he finished his speech.

Durban’s residents would see their rates increase by 6.9 percent, while residential customers would pay 12.5 percent more for water and businesses would pay 15.9 percent more for water.

Electricity tariffs would increase by 7.64 percent, while sanitation costs would increase by 9.9 percent and refuse removal would go up by 7.9 percent.