Ratepayers boycott paying rates after tariff increase

THE Westville Ratepayers’ Association (WRA) has promised to further boycott their rates as a protest action. For the past few months, the ratepayers have written a series of letters to the City objecting to the tariff increase that was initiated from July 1.

Recently, the WRA wrote to the City, announcing that they will not be paying rates until the City engages with them, giving them seven days to respond.

The WRA remained in their stance that the public participation process that eThekwini Municipality used to communicate these tariff increases to the public was flawed and unlawful.

Also read: Ratepayers continue to object to tariff increase

“The municipality did not properly and adequately engage with all ratepayers as is required by law before adopting these increases. Failure to so contravenes the basic tenets of a democratic society,” they stated.

The association listed how the boycott would affect the City should they continue. “The city is so cash-strapped that it is unlikely you will meet your financial obligations. The City will not be able to pay salaries and wages which will leave our councillors, senior managers and managers out of pocket. The municipality will be directly responsible for the nonpayment of salaries to the honest, hardworking and innocent employees of the City.

“Without the boycott, the municipality is already struggling to meet its financial obligations to its suppliers. A rates boycott will exacerbate the arrears to your suppliers. The City won’t be able to meet the repayments on the loans you have taken from the banks.

“Your failure to engage the WRA will result in a financial collapse of the city.”

The WRA pleaded with the City to come back to the negotiating table before the end of July so an amicable solution can be found that is both beneficial to the City and not a burden to the ratepayers.

Also read: Ratepayers continue in their stance to object proposed tariff increase

“Should eThekwini Municipality and the MEC of COGTA not convene a meeting before the end of July, we will proceed with a rate boycott as an act of protest. We wish to further advise that the proposal to embark on this protest action has been well supported by various other ratepayer associations and businesses. We trust that the management of the City will take this seriously, failing which a full utility boycott will proceed,” they stated.

In response, the City acknowledged receipt of the letter dated July 15.
“The municipality responded on the 29th of May 2023 to the memorandum that was handed to the City by the Westville Ratepayers’ Association at the Ratepayers’ Association Budget Consultation meeting that was held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on the 24th of May 2023.

“In line with the City’s policies and by-laws, credit control measures are being and will continue to be implemented on accounts that are in arrears. These measures include disconnections and penalties,” they stated.

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