The Greater Letaba Municipality is owed over half a billion Rand in unpaid rates and taxes by households and businesses.
Mayor Peter Matlou revealed this during a strategic planning session held at Karibu last week. The total amount of R484 million is owed by businesses and households in Modjadjiskloof, Mooketsi, Sekgosese, Mokgoba and Ga-Kgapane.
Of the total amount, R223 387 585 is owed by households while businesses owe R261 174 44. Matlou said the municipality is in the process of acquiring the services of a debt collector to help the municipality recoup the money.
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“If we can recoup it, we will be able to provide quality services to the residents and implement all the projects listed on the IDP document,” said Matlou.
He commended the municipal manager, Dr Innocent Sirovha and his team for achieving an unqualified audit opinion for two years in succession despite the financial challenges resulting from non-payment.
With regard to the municipal infrastructure grant, he said the municipality was rewarded R20 million for 100% spending. He said in the current financial year, the municipality has already spent 70% of the municipal infrastructure grant with four months remaining.
Matlou is confident that by the end of the financial year, in June, the municipality would have spent all the municipal infrastructure grant funds. He urged officials to strive towards achieving a clean audit report this financial year.
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He listed the following as the key achievements in the past and current financial year: The establishment of Kgapane Cemetery, refurbishing infrastructure like community halls, installation of prepaid meters in Modjadjiskloof to reduce electricity loss, paving of 38km of roads and assistance to more than 150 SMMEs across various sectors.
In addition to regular waste collection in the townships and rural business areas, the municipality provided all the 30 wards with skip bins.
They also showed commitment to environmental protection through performance in the greenest municipality competition, drastically reduced their vacancy rate and built sufficient capacity to
develop policies without the use of service providers.
