POLOKWANE – Thembi Nkadimeng, Polokwane Mayor told Ga-Rena Rental Village residents they have until mid-October to register their accounts and pay outstanding fees or she will terminate their water and electricity services.
Residents of Ga-Rena met with Nkadimeng on Thursday at the Jack Botes Hall. This follows residents’ decision to stop paying for rates, services and rent.
One of the residents said: “If you don’t want to give us these RDP houses, we request that the rent be reduced because some of the residents are unemployed. We request Nkadimeng to assign people to do surveys at Ga-Rena to identify residents who struggle to pay rent.”
Nkadimeng responded by saying only 25% of Ga-Rena residents pay for services and fewer pay for rent. “I am going to start terminating services and open criminal cases against anyone who makes illegal connections. All government departments are required to pay for the services they receive from the municipality hence I expect Ga-Rena residents to do the same,” she explained.
She further said she told the Ga-Rena committee to make a list of residents who are not working so she can address the issue with the council and come up with a solution but it seems the committee is dragging its feet. She said she never told residents to stop paying for their services because she wanted their votes, and asked that residents stop using the local government elections as an excuse not to pay their dues.
She emphasised the council cannot reduce rent when residents stop paying. “Activate your accounts so the council can consider reducing rent. I don’t have any power when it comes to rent, but the council does. I have realised that residents are becoming irresponsible and I have the right to take harsh action,” Nkadimeng said.
Residents explained they can only pay between R500 and R800 per month for rent. Residents were given until 15 October to activate their accounts but requested the municipality extend the date to 31 October to accommodate those who get paid at the end of the month.
They also requested that old water bills be cancelled so residents can start afresh. It is said that the water bills are high due to leaking water meters. Nkadimeng promised to look into the matter and give residents feedback.
She also said it is illegal for residents to rent out vacant Ga-Rena flats and anyone found guilty of this will be charged with corruption.
She further told residents she is not going to extend the date for account registration to 31 October and warned that she would terminate services if residents don’t activate their accounts within the given time.
