Westonaria residents have taken issue with the local municipality’s tariff increases during a meeting held recently at the Westonaria Banquet Hall.
Municipal representatives were bombarded with questions and even accusations by angry residents, who say there is no way they will be able to afford the new rates.
If adopted, the new rates will see residents coughing up 80% more on property their rates.
According to the municipality, the town’s decaying infrastructure needs to be revamped in order to improve the quality of services, however, this is not possible owing to the fact that residents and local businesses are not paying for services rendered.
According to Westonaria’s Chief Financial Officer Vincent Mkhefa, the municipality is cash strapped and operating at a deficit in all aspects.
“From now on, you will be paying for everything that you use and nothing is for mahala (free).
“If you use water, you will pay for every drop and if you use electricity, you will pay for it as well.
“If you are not happy with the tariffs now, then you are certainly going to hate me,” says Mkhefa who adds that Christmas is over for residents of Westonaria and its surrounds.
According to him, the new proposed budget will see local businesses paying double the rates while local mining businesses will cough out at least triple for their rates.
He also announced that the municipality will be using a strategy which will see the rich paying for the poor.
Currently, the municipality is owing a whopping R64 million to power utility Eskom and has other debtors amounting to R184 million
The municipality is also operating at a deficit of approximately R7 million for both water and waste services.
The municipality is owed millions by residents on municipal accounts.
Residents did not take lightly to the suggestions put forward and fired back at the Mkhefa, saying that they need to revise the proposed budget.
“These rates are ridiculous and we cannot afford what you putting before us,” said one resident.
Another resident Boitumelo Mogoje took to the stage and said that the municipality is to blame for the debt they are in owing to their poor service delivery.
The meeting dragged on into the night and by 10pm, municipal workers were still in the hot seat and very much under attack.
