Seven eThekwini councillors charged for failing to pay rates
In the city's budget report which was released last month, it was revealed that eThekwini employees, including councillors, owed the municipality over R31 million in rate services.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2020/12/f4f08e8a-9d1b-4bd5-8f5e-1f858598398b-1-780x470.jpg)
SEVEN eThekwini Municipality councillors have been charged for defaulting on their municipal accounts.
Sipho Hlomuka, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) welcomed steps taken by the eThekwini Metro in holding to account councillors who have defaulted on their payments for rates services.
“The consumer debt stands at over R20- billion in the province and it cannot be right that we have councillors or officials as perpetrators of this deliberate behaviour which compromises service delivery even for those who pay for the services. We expect all leaders to lead by example,” said Hlomuka.
ALSO READ: Abandoned houses in Hillary cause neighbours to cry ‘foul!’
In the city’s budget report, which was released last month, it was revealed that eThekwini employees, including councillors owed the municipality over R31 million in rate services.
Hlomuka said the seven councillors come from different parties in the eThekwini Metro and were charged by the Council’s Ethics Committee for defaulting on their municipal accounts in line with the Municipal Systems and Structures Act.
ALSO READ: New set of lows for High Street
Hlomuka said that the department will continue to work with the municipalities to ensure that all officials and councillors lead by example and are held accountable for their actions.
At the same time, Hlomuka is also calling on all municipalities to take steps to hold to account all the councillors who are delaying the delivery of services to the communities.
“All municipalities must ensure that the councillors who do not pay for electricity and water are punished because, as elected representatives, they should take a lead in mobilising their communities to support the Masakhane campaign which seeks to encourage all citizens to pay for services,” he said.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409. You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts. Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.