Resumed services or class action – municipality given ultimatum
The general meeting hosted by the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the local business industry concluded in a final ultimatum being handed to municipal administration that either services are to resume or class action will be taken.
The meeting took place at 11:00 today, where a local attorney, opened the floor with possible steps available to the sector to address the ongoing municipal strike and its effects on the local industry as well as the municipality’s failure to render services.
After the meeting concluded, MCCI issued the following press release:
Concerns of the business industry regarding Steve Tshwete Local Municipality:
At a meeting facilitated by the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was attended by a substantial number of representatives of businesses in the Middelburg area, the following was resolved:
•The failure of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality to address the current strike action and the resultant lack of service delivery is unacceptable.
•The business community demands that the following services be restored in full by no later than Friday, 4 March:
•Refuse removal.
•Emergency maintenance services with regard to electricity, sewerage and water reticulation.
•The business community be provided with a clear time frame and plan before 11 March as to how and when the following services will be restored to full efficiency including:
Town Planning Services
The Licencing Department
Water Reticulation and Maintenance
Electricity Reticulation and Maintenance
Road Maintenance
Communication.
The business community further demands that a clear and constructive communication channel be established for business to raise and address issues of concern to the business community and in turn would allow the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality to convey information of importance to the business community within its jurisdiction.
Non compliance of the demands will result in further action including but not limited to legal action to compel the delivery of service, and a response to the aforesaid demands which are legitimately made by an important stakeholder within the area of jurisdiction of the Municipality.
Subject to legal advice being obtained, the business community is also considering the option of a boycott of payment of municipal services, and a class action for the recovery of damages suffered by businesses and residents as a result of the Municipality’s lack of service delivery.
