André Schutte writes via email:

This morning (December 1), I opened an email with a document attached regarding the Lesedi Holiday Incentive Bonanza.

I am a homeowner within the municipal boundaries of Lesedi.

Up to the date on this letter, I used to be a timely payer of my municipal account. But that has ended today.

Throughout my more than two years residing in Heidelberg, Gauteng, I have settled my monthly municipal bill in full and on time. Always.

Today I received an email from the municipality notifying me that the households, businesses and other entities who have not paid their bills as obediently as I (and probably numerous others) have, are being rewarded by your writing off 50% of their outstanding amounts on their municipal accounts, together with 100% of the interest these outstanding amounts have accrued during this period — from November 21, 2024, to December 24, 2025 (being one year, one month and three days, according to my calculations).

It is infuriating to think that those of us who have paid our Lesedi municipal accounts on time are being deprived of the benefits of this offer, while those who have shortfalls on their accounts are being rewarded.

The main purpose of this letter is to notify the Lesedi Municipality that, in the future (starting today), I shall not be paying the full outstanding amount on my monthly Lesedi Tax Invoice / Statement of Account anymore.

The reason for this is simple, and I explain why:

Let’s assume my Lesedi average monthly bill amounts to R3 000. Of this, I shall only pay a monthly amount of R2 000, which would create a shortfall of R1 000.

Over a 12–month period, this R1 000 shortfall should accrue to an amount of R12 000.

By December 2026, it would be reasonable to expect the Lesedi Municipality to make this offer again to all the bad–paying households and businesses, since you seem to be rewarding the bad–paying individuals and entities.
I would then take you up on your offer and merely pay the amount of R6 000.

In return, you will write off the outstanding balance of R6 000, together with all the interest this full outstanding amount of R12 000 would have accumulated during this time — exactly as you are doing now.

This way I score R6 000 off my total annual municipal bill.

However, I might still be willing to settle my future monthly Lesedi bills in full if you are willing to refund me, and every other good–paying household, business or entity, the amount of R6 000 as a “Thank You” gesture for keeping our accounts up to date throughout this period.

When you invent and create incentives for those who behave badly, well–behaved individuals will also eventually behave badly.

Perhaps you have created, with this Incentive Bonanza, more bad for yourselves than good. I don’t care. I intend to exploit it.

I don’t expect you to find this in order, but I am sure you would understand and agree with my way of thinking.