Concerns over MMC’s reported R300k arrears on City of Ekurhuleni’s services
Independent Ratepayers Association of SA has voiced its strongest concerns on what it believes to be violation of Item 14 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.
The Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa is deeply concerned about rules applied on credit control for ratepayers and councillors in the City of Ekurhuleni.
Izak Berg, national chairperson of IRASA, stated that the DA-led coalition is quick to disconnect residents but should rather look at their own coalition partners first.
It came to IRASA’s attention that in an item which served in the May 2022 council meeting under ethics, that councillor and MMC Thembani Kalipa owes the city.
He said Kalipa owes the CoE an arrear amount of R321 809 on his municipal account.
“In the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 (12A) it clearly states that no councillor may be in arrears to the municipality for rates and service charges for a period longer than three months. IRASA has written an email to the leadership of COPE in Parliament informing them of the situation,” said Berg.
It is alleged that the services of MMC of Infrastructure Services, who was appointed in December 2021, has neither been disconnected nor terminated.
“This is also a violation of item 14 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors that prohibits a councillor’s municipal account for rates and taxes being in arrears for periods in excess of three months. We request the DA coalition and COPE to address this matter. IRASA, on behalf of the ratepayers in the CoE, requests the MMC to step down,” Berg said.
He told the Alberton Record IRASA wanted to debate this matter in the May council meeting but were silenced by Whip of Council, Khetha Shandu, and the speaker, Raymond Dlamini.
According to Berg, one has to ask why the DA protects their coalition partner to the detriment of the residents and ratepayers of the city.
Office of the Executive Mayor
Phakamile Mbengashe, the spokesperson of the executive mayor, said: “On June 26, during an ordinary council meeting, the ethics and integrity committee noted that Kalipa had visited the city’s finance department with regards to his municipal account arrears.”
He said Kalipa had previously lodged multiple disputes in relation to his municipal account bill and had alerted the municipality that his metre had been illegally tampered with.
Mbengashe told the Alberton RECORD the multiple disputes lodged by the MMC are yet to be resolved.
“As such, the matter is currently investigated by the city’s finance department and a report will be submitted to the ethics and integrity committee to determine the actual account arrears and the outstanding balance to be paid to the municipality,” he said.
Council has recommended that upon completion of the investigation, a stop order arrangement to settle payment of arrears in excess of three months be made between the councillor and the municipality.
According to Mbengashe, the multi-party coalition government remains committed to governing in the interests of the people by adopting best practices in good governance.
“To this effect, Kalipa does not enjoy any preferential treatment due to him holding political office. The necessary credit control measures will be instituted against Kalipa, once his dispute has been resolved and investigation has been concluded,” he explained.
