‘Absurd’, ‘insane’ and ‘mind-boggling’ are just some of the words Newcastle residents used to express their thoughts on the increase in rates and tariffs proposed in the draft budget for the 2020/2021 financial year.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, residents have not had the opportunity to air their views at the road shows which are usually hosted by the municipality to facilitate public participation in the decision-making process. Instead, residents were given until close of business today to make submissions telephonically, via e-mail, or using social media.
ALSO READ: Newcastle ratepayers given until Friday to have their voices heard
Some residents sent their thoughts on the draft budget to the Newcastle Advertiser. We have published them below as an open letter to the municipality and the council. Furthermore, the Newcastle Advertiser will share this post to the Newcastle Municipality’s Facebook page, and send a link to the open letter directly to the municipal spokesperson, Mlungisi Khumalo, acting municipal manger, Muzi Mayisela, and mayor, Dr Nthuthuko Mahlaba.
Keep scrolling to read what residents had to say.
An open letter from Newcastle residents to the Local Municipality and Council:
Theresa de Bruyn writes:
These new proposed price hikes are totally absurd. We are pensioners who are already fighting a losing battle to keep our heads above water. How do these people expect us to survive on a pension and additional tariff hikes? This is totally unacceptable.
Pieter Kruger writes:
It was with great disappointment and disbelief that I read about the decision made to increase overall rates and taxes once again. Not too long ago, my property tax went up by more than 100%, and even after requesting a re-evaluation, nothing has been done.
This is not sustainable. We simply cannot continue to pay these ludicrous increases, especially in a time like this, where the global economy is under tremendous pressure.
Instead of giving residents, who are all under a lot of financial strain already, a reprieve, you decide to hike rates and taxes and put your heel on our throats instead?!
No more, I simply cannot continue to pay these insane prices! I also do not even have the option to pay Eskom directly, but have to rely on thumb sucking and guesstimates to determine my usages per month, again I say NO MORE!
I’ve always paid my account via Debit Order but I will have no option but to cancel this payment method as it is becoming unaffordable and I cannot trust you not to just take whatever amount you deem correct.
I will be requesting an audit after every month and will also be requesting a payment plan where I can hopefully manually pay you a certain amount I can afford per month towards my utility bill.
I say again, instead of lowering taxes/rates you are actually increasing everything in these times!? The mind boggles!
This will not stand, and history will prove you are wrong wrong, wrong!
Dr Bongumusa Ngobese writes:
How do you think we can afford these increments when we are retrenched due to the economic meltdown? I urge the Executive Council to suspend these suggestions and get funding from the government coffers, such as relief funds.
Ati Gero writes:
I feel that due to the COVID-19 restrictions and shut down. There has been a great strain on the property owners with the reduction of income and extra expenses. So for any rates or taxes, an increase would be unacceptable this year.
Vicky Olivier writes:
There are a lot of people who lost their jobs during the lock down. We also didn’t get a raise in our salaries to be able to pay higher rates. So, I am totally against the high rates. Especially, if one looks at the state the roads of Newcastle as well as the filthy waste water that bubbles up everywhere in the suburbs.
Mrs M Maharaj writes:
We feel it is so ridiculous that we have an increase in electricity and rates. In this time of Covid-19, we don’t have food and essentials. Now, we must fork out extra for these services. We can’t afford this increase. Companies have cut salaries, so where do we get money for the increase. Some people don’t have food and clothes to keep warm. During this difficult time, our Mayor should consider a cut on rates and electricity… Not kill us with an increase.
Hester van der Walt writes:
Thank you for allowing us to speak our mind on this matter.
As a small business owner of a Beauty Salon in Newcastle, I would like to bring this matter to those ears that need to understand the financial difficulty we currently find ourselves in.
With this lockdown, most of us, especially in the industry we are in, are hanging by a thread with regards to closing our doors!
Any price hike now will mean the nail in our coffins!!!
You ask of us to contact the necessary people to ask for a payment holiday but then there is no relief from the government that is supposed to support us with the decisions they make.
We are down on our knees already. Now, you want to kick us while we are down and out.
How low can you go?
Awie Hoon writes:
The property valuation increased quite substantially last year.
Taking into account the effect of Covid-19 on people’s income, where, in more than one company I know of, employees have had to take a pay cut (10% at the one and 20% at the other one), my opinion is that at least the property rates should not be raised and the municipality should consider a lesser percentage increase on the whole of the budget.
Elsabe Swiegers writes:
How can they increase the rates at a time like this? We all are struggling to get through each day as it is. Why increase by so much? I really don’t think it is right. I don’t say that they should not increase, but really, not by so much.
Candice Rambaran writes:
No, no, no, man….Mr President, Ministers and Newcastle Municipalty…MR MAYOR…
People are getting money for nothing and then there are people who need it, who are not getting it. Meanwhile, because of lockdown affecting our places of work, salaries are cut, working hours are cut. We are not the only ones. There are many others. How must a person survive? Please tell us how we must now pay more for electricity? How must we afford it? DON’T INCREASE RATES. Why aren’t we getting help? We are affected as well because of the impact on our jobs. We are not doing well. We barely make it at month end when we get paid. Now we must pay more for electricity. NO, I DONT AGREE TO THAT. STOP WITH THE INCREASE. It’s hard on us too. How do you want us to survive? We are essential workers. We put our lives at risk to serve our nation. The least you can do is to NOT INCREASE ELECTRICITY AND RATES.
Rajendra Hemraj writes:
The 2020/2021 budget was thumb sucked. Why the non-concern for Covid and failure to see unemployment at it’s worst? Increases are not justified.
Withelm Brits writes:
The increase is ridiculous. Municipality had no known cost cutting measures nor did it freeze vacancies, cut salaries or only pay partial salaries, during Covid, but the rest of business all suffered and will take ages to recover. The municipality continues to oppress the very people who pay the bills while they don’t pay their own bills. This rampage and gravy train needs to be stopped.
Anan Tealo writes:
Due to Covid-19, most of us are not steady with our jobs as yet. We try to have our bills paid but it’s not easy at all. Just to come up with the sum we already owe is stressful.
Johannes Smit writes:
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to appeal against the increasing tariffs. I think after this lock down, there are more and more people who have lost an income per household, and for that reason we can’t raise taxes. People can’t pay and they are trying to find new jobs just to make ends meet. Then, we are in the heart of winter and, with this virus, we cannot put people on the street. Have a heart. Let’s work on other methods to reach our goals and help the people to recover please!
Anonymous writes:
Newcastle Municipality, stop increasing everything, otherwise you will kill all of us before Covid-19 VIRUS.
The Newcastle Advertiser also received the following messages via SMS and Whatsapp:
- Please note, we cannot afford an increase in our municipal bill as my husband’s salary has already been cut by 40% and I am unable to work due to medical circumstances. We are barely surviving now, as is. Please don’t increase the rates.
- People are already battling to stay afloat, unlike the municipal staff, who got their salaries. Why must we pay for their faults? We, as ratepayers, pay every month. Where is the money going?
- Please don’t increase the rates and the account for the municipality.
- I am totally against the increase. The community of Newcastle cannot afford tariff increases due to the losses already incurred from the Covid19 outbreak and the restrictions which caused job losses and salary reductions. The municipality needs to look at alternatives to generate funds, like salary cuts at the municipality and cancellation of projects aimed at increasing political aims and not the needs of the community.
