A MEETING was held in Amanzimtoti on July 29, to discuss a rates boycott in protest of the collapsed public infrastructure and the recent municipal tariff hikes.
The poorly attended meeting was held at the Methodist Church and it came about after a group of local residents invited the Westville Ratepayers Association (WRA) to explain in detail the proposed rates boycott by eThekwini Municipality ratepayers. The WRA has been spearheading a rates boycott since the new budget and the rates hike were approved.
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Asad Gaffar who is the chairperson of the WRA said they have tried to engage the municipality on the matters that are of concern to the community but after numerous meetings and promises, the WRA realised that the eThekwini Municipality does not take its residents seriously.
“All we ask is for the city to set aside the tariff increases because the whole budget is a scam. There are many things that the city is doing that are illegal and it is unacceptable as it is infringing on our Constitutional rights,” said Guffar.
The WRA proposes that residents deposit the money into an account that will be provided instead of paying the municipality. Gaffar said residents should not feel intimidated when the city threatens to disconnect the lights, not remove rubbish, and its other duties.
“We are saying that if that matter has to go to court, we will defend any disconnection of electricity. We will cover any legal cost, any interest charges, or cost you might incur,” said Gaffar.
In response, eThekwini said it is unacceptable and unlawful not to pay valid municipal accounts while referring to past cases from around the country where ratepayers associations withheld rates but ended up losing in court.
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“We acknowledge some of the frustrations about service delivery lapses that are experienced by communities, but not paying for rates is a bad idea. Not only is it unlawful, but it is also risky on many fronts. We are continuously exploring ways to improve how we deliver services to communities, and we will continue streamlining our service delivery model to ensure that service delivery is provided in a satisfactory and sustainable manner,” said eThekwini in a statement.
It further said revenue from property rates is used to fund services that benefit the community as opposed to individual households.
“These services include constructing and maintaining roads, sidewalks, lighting, and storm drainage facilities, operating parks, recreational facilities, and cemeteries,” it said.
eThekwini asked each household to educate itself and make informed decisions instead of following what it labelled as a mob mentality and engaging in unlawful acts.
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