Many residents and business owners in Randfontein are up in arms about the impending double charge on their municipal accounts.
The double billing comes after the merging of Randfontein and Westonaria to form the new Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM).
Tshidiso Tlharipe, RWCLM spokesperson said the move was made to get residents from both former municipalities up to date.
The former Randfontein Local Municipality has been billing a month in arrears. This affected its cash flow and limits the municipality from collecting rates within the current billing cycle,” Tlharipe said.
“[C]onsumers from Randfontein are advised that billing for [the] month of October 2016 will [show] consumption for August to October 2016.”
Tlharipe explained the double billing for October will enable consumers to pay within the current billing cycle. He advised those who cannot pay the full amount to make an arrangement with the municipality to be allowed until 30 July, 2017 to pay the amount.
On 31 August council approved various tariff increases:
• Basic sewage is up by 6 per cent
• Refuse and sanitation are up by 6,6 per cent
• Water provision up by 12,9 per cent
• Electricity tariff up by 9,4 per cent
• Property rates up by 6 per cent
• Basic charge of R50 on electricity infrastructure for non-indigent prepaid users
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