Wrong levy is still charged

FOUR months down the line residents are still paying the “illegal” cleansing levy of R5,70.

Various residents started querying the levy again when it reappeared on their accounts for a second, third and now a fourth month, despite the metro saying it would be reversed.

Kempton Express has tried since October 21 to get comment from the municipality. Emails were sent weekly but all our attempts were fruitless.

Shortly after the levy was charged for the first time in July, Clr Eddie Taylor, DA spokesman on finance, said the MMC for finance, Clr Moses Makwakwa, indicated during a programming committee meeting that the item had been gazetted in error and as it had been gazetted, the metro had simply applied the charge.

“He indicated an intention to bring an item to council to reverse that decision at the August meeting. However, no such item appeared. I expect the item to come to council in September, after which the charge will be removed and residents’ accounts will be credited,” Taylor said.

However, this never happened.

At the time Sam Modiba, metro spokesman, said a special mayoral committee meeting resolved that the implementation of the levy was erroneous and that it should, in the interim, be reversed.

“There is currently an internal and administrative process dealing with the technicalities in respect of levy implementation. The resolution will then be communicated with residents,” Modiba said.