THE much debated “cleansing levy” on municipal accounts had been removed as from April 1.
As from this date Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality will bill one inclusive levy on refuse.
According to a municipal spokesman, the error was actually splitting the tariff in two – refuse collection and area cleansing. The combined amount will now reflect a 15 per cent instead of a 10 per cent increase from last year’s (July 2012 to June 2013) tariff.
Last year Sam Modiba, the then metro spokesman, said the administrative error in implementing the tariff had no financial effect on customers’ accounts.
Modiba said council considered the increase of refuse removal tariffs at a council meeting in May last year.
“The increase of the refuse removal tariff was proposed in the draft budget that was tabled during the March 2013 meeting and included the R5,70 cleansing levy per property per month.
“During the May meeting the proposed levy was debated and council resolved that the refuse removal tariff be increased with 15 per cent, inclusive of the cleansing levy,” according to Modiba.
“The levy was erroneously implemented as a separate charge effective from July 2013.”
Having noted the error, a detailed investigation was undertaken on the process to correct the administrative error in respect of the charged R5 cleansing levy.”
