ALBERTON – At the programming meeting of October 24, MMC for Finance Clr Makwakwa said that the R5.70 cleansing levy was added to resident’s statement from July.
The percentage increase for solid waste removal and illegal dumping, which was approved in the budget for 2013/2014, was 15 per cent.
Although this was intended to include a component of R5 (excluding VAT) to be ring-fenced specifically to contribute towards the cost of removing illegal dumping.
However, on resident’s statements an amount of 12.5 per cent increase was charged along with the R5 for the cleansing levy, which if put together equaled the budgeted increase of 15 per cent.
Municipality will now charge the legal 15 per cent levy for illegal waste removal which will reflect as such on statements. Although it could not be confirmed when the change will be implemented it is likely that it will only appear like that in the first months of 2014.
“Residents will be no worse off than they are now and there will be no reduction for ratepayers. Nor will there be any funds refunded as the levy is legal and was planned for and approved in the budget.
“Unfortunately there are too many dumping’s taking place and therefore ratepayers have to pay for it. Instead of people just taking their rubble and dumping it at the newly renovated/upgraded transfer station in Heidelburg Road, they can’t be bothered and dump it,” said Councillor Bruna Haipel.
A suggestion was also made to Makwakwa that he should in any event, bring an Item to Council to clarify the change and to use it to communicate the change to residents.
