Stink in Wasbank over septic tank clearance tariffs
"Most Wasbank residents are economically inactive as there is no employment in the area. We definitely cannot afford such an exorbitant fee."
Wasbank residents are up in arms over what they say is a 300 percent increase in the tariff for clearing of septic tanks in the village.
Wasbank does not have a water-borne sewage system so septic tanks are used, which are cleared by the Umzinyathi District Municipality (which is responsible for water and sanitation in the area).
In a petition signed by residents, they said the original tariff was R157 for the clearing of one septic tank.
“Without any notification or consultation with the community, this tariff was increased to R626,02 – an increase of around 300%,” said SM Dubree, who wrote the original letter to Umzinyathi.
“Is such an enormous increase justified?
“Most Wasbank residents are economically inactive as there is no employment in the area. We definitely cannot afford such an exorbitant fee.”
The petition goes on to urge the UDM to reduce the tariff to an affordable level.
There was also a warning that should their request not be taken into consideration, then the residents will have no alternative but to allow the human waste to flow in the streets, as no one would be able to pay for its removal.
However, the hope was for ‘good governance, as residents do not want to resort to such extreme and undesirable action’.
UDM response
In their response, UDM said there is a standard uniform tariff throughout the district, which was approved by Council for 2014/15. “This tariff is representative of all costs incurred as required by the Department of Water and Sanitation Guidelines, and is market-related.
“By law the municipality is required to review its tariffs annually; therefore tariffs are not reviewed on a sliding scale. There will be an increase which is linked to inflation, and Wasbank is not an exception to this tariff application.
“The complete policy is available for viewing on request at the Umzinyathi District Municipality offices.”
However, Wasbank residents insist that as their area is the only one in this area to have a septic tank system, their tariff should be reviewed.
