Mahwelereng residents upset over municipal tariff increases
The Mogalakwena Municipality held a consulted forum on increased tariffs at the Mahwelereng Community Hall on Sunday.
LIMPOPO – During this meeting, municipal tariff increases for the 2018/2019 financial year was discussed with community members.
Kate Mabye a dissatisfied resident, said she is unhappy how the meeting was conducted and how she was treated. According to Mabye the Municipal Chief Whip, Mankopane Mike Rapatsa, hushed her and said she was disrupting the meeting and needed to sit-down.
Mabye said: “I stood up and addressed Rampatsa to raise my concerns when I was hushed. The state grant to these people were increased by 6 % and the municipality wants to increase water tariffs with 8,5%. This is absurd. The community is already in poverty and will fall even further into poverty. The municipality also did not promote this meeting enough. To drive around in one ward on a Sunday afternoon with a haler is not promoting it to all. The proof is in the poor attendance from the public. There are more than a 1 000 residents in the area and merely 100 attended the meeting. The municipality needs to take our concerns into consideration, not to hush us and tell us to sit down. We are, after all, the people who put the money in the bank.”
Proposed municipal tariff increases:
• Hiring of halls, temporary use of land, temporary advertisement of posters, pamphlets, advertising signs, on premises signs will increase by 8%.
• Domestic waste collection, graves and cemeteries, refuse removal, sewer, property tax, agricultural will increase by 6%.
• Water will increase by 8,5%.
• Proposed sundry tariff will increase by 6%.
• Museum: LED and tourism will increase by 6%.
• Swimming pool and hiring of stadiums will increase by 10%.
• Library services both in rural and urban areas will increase by 6%.
• Disposal of waste tariffs for non-residents will increase by 6%.
• Sale of refuse bins will increase by 6%.
• Trading licenses for hawkers structure will increase by 6%.
Rapatsa said Eskom proposed an electricity tariff increase of 7,32%. “Nersa is still considering the increase of Eskom before a guideline increase for municipalities will be announced.”
Rapatsa emphasised residents must pay services so the municipality must ensure that it remains financially sustainable in order to provide the services and maintenance that is required.
“We have to do this, but also have a responsibility to ensure municipal services are provided affordable rates to all communities. We want to assure all the communities they would be able to contribute to the sustainable provision of services.”
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
