UPDATE: Market-rental issue still not resolved
“People are tired of these unfulfilled promises,” said a Flora Court resident.
What seemed like a victory for residents who live in councilowned buildings is one they are still fighting.
In 2017, the City Times was told that market-related rentals were expected to be abolished as of July 1 and replaced with economical rentals.
But, in 2018, we were told this was an error in the budget.
“The rental tariffs were erroneously included in the schedule of tariffs considered by council in May 2017,” said Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson, Themba Gadebe.
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“Council had an existing rental policy as well as the resolution as to how annual rental increase should be managed.”
According to Gadebe, feedback from the corporate, legal and finance departments regarding the May 2017 Schedule 26 Rental Tariffs will be submitted at another council meeting being held later this month.
Ward 29 councillor Haseena Ismail said the news was confirmed at a council meeting held on February 22.
“Council residents continue to get ripped off as the metro drags its feet on implementing lower rental prices,” she said.
“The last budget was passed by the governing-ANC stipulating a decrease in rental costs for council-owned flats.
“They have failed to implement the new approved rental prices, instead the previous market-related rentals remained in place.”
Flora Court resident Louise Smith said this is a never-ending fight for residents who pay these rentals.
“Currently, we pay R4 000 a month for two bedrooms,” she said.
“Others pay less because they do not pay for market-related rentals.”
According to Smith, with the rentals being so high, she cannot afford a fridge for her house.
The reason for the different rental amounts, according to Ismail, is a passed resolution by the ANC in 2008 which required tenants living in council flats to pay market-related rentals.
The market-related rentals did not apply to those who moved into flats prior to 2008.
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