Ratepayers continue in their stance to object proposed tariff increase

RATEPAYERS in Durban have joined in one voice to object to a tariff increase set to take place in July. The increase was announced by the eThekwini mayor during his budget speech in April this year. With the budget set to increase by 21.91%, the Westville, Bluff and Musgrave ratepayers’ associations, along with the Active Citizens’ Movement and Tongaat Civic Association, have given a letter of demand to the eThekwini Municipality.

The letter comes a week after the Westville and Bluff ratepayers’ associations wrote to the municipality, with other authorities, to demand a meeting before or on May 31. In the seven-page memorandum, penned by the civil organisations, topping their 34 listed concerns was the issue of the meeting to engage on the tariff increase with the community which was also highlighted in the previous letter.

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“A general notice to all ratepayers’ associations was only sent via email on May 18, 2023, giving the associations only three working days to make it to this meeting. The municipality is required, under its own tenets of law and policy, to provide reasonable notice to ratepayers prior to setting down a meeting for necessary discourse,” read the letter.
The organisations said this was a constitutional infringement.
“The notice given for this public forum meeting is insufficient and therefore prejudicial on the basis that it will limit our discussion with the municipality. A response addressed to the municipality from our attorneys placed these concerns on record. No public engagement or participatory meetings so far as this proposed tariff increase were held in Westville. Similarly, some of the associations cited herewith have informed us that no meetings were held in their wards either,” they stated.

Referring to the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 in Chapter 2, the organisations blamed the municipality for ruling as a supreme entity.
“Our view is that the municipality does not exist on its own. The community is an integral part of a municipality and must be heard. It functions in its area in accordance with the political, statutory and other relationships between its political structures, political office bearers and administration and its community. This is currently not the status quo; this municipality is functioning as a supreme authority with a complete disregard for the community’s concerns. A municipality may not make arbitrary decisions without involving the community.”

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Among 34 concerns listed in the letter, they further stated that the Westville Ratepayers’ Association has tried avenues to communicate with the municipality.
“Sadly, this municipality has failed miserably in both these regards. The WRA has fully engaged the municipality regarding all its failures. Chapter 4(2)(e) says: ‘Consult the local community about: (i) The level, quality, range and impact of municipal services provided by the municipality, either directly or through another service provider’. We have highlighted, on several occasions, our dissatisfaction regarding non-service and poor-quality service from contractors employed by the City, including but not limited to:
– holes in the road and pavements left unattended with no safety warnings
– rubble not collected after pipes have been repaired
– road surfaces left unrepaired
– parts and vehicles unavailable
– stormwater systems left clogged and not cleaned for years.
– our inability to report power and water outages due to a non-functional call centre and/or WhatsApp system.”

Also read: Westville Ratepayers’ Association in pursuit of what belongs to them

Concluding their memorandum, the organisations stated that they will be reserving their rights to submit further objections.
“We note with concern that the recent Section 154 intervention by the Provincial Government is an indication that our concerns raised herein are justified, and certainly, therefore, any decision by eThekwini Municipality, in so far as it relates to adopting any tariff increases, should be pended until the Section 154 enquiry is complete and a report is issued to the public dealing with the wasteful and irregular spending concerns.”

The eThekwini Municipality head of communication, Lindiwe Khuzwayo, said the window for submitting comments or objections was open for all residents. “We had asked that residents make use of the email address, comments2021@durban.gov.za, or come out and voice their concerns at our public consultation hearings. The last consultation was held on May 24 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. We had teams dedicated to making note of all concerns raised because every resident’s view is important in this process.” Khuzwayo said all comments received will be studied and considered.

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