Ekurhuleni forum opposes recent rate increases

LSOThe Thembisa Community Forum (TCF) held a meeting with the local community in Thembisa recently in response to the metro’s increase in rates and taxes that came into effect on July 1.

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According to TCF spokesperson Xolani Mnisi, they discussed the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) not answering their critical questions, including the increase in rates and taxes.

“We discussed issues we’ve been grappling with for the past months. Similar to the strike we had in April when we marched toward the civic centre regarding the lack of service delivery and rates, this time was no different,” said Mnisi.

Mnisi stated they had a series of meetings with CoE as the TCF leadership and that, while most of the critical issues discussed at the meeting were not resolved, they still returned to the community to provide feedback.

“Being an organisation that takes its mandate from the community, we think it’s best that we go to Germiston.

“However, before that final decision was made, a few matters were raised by the community,” said Mnisi.

He said that much to the community’s disapproval, an increase had been put in place.

Water, sewerage and electricity rates had increased, which led to the community’s decision to march to Germiston.

But the march didn’t happen on the Saturday.

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“There was confusion regarding the march.

“TCF held a meeting to discuss the possibility of a march and what we wanted to address to the officials in Germiston if the march did happen.

“We were not the only ones confused about the date, as the police, EMPD, and medical services were present at the meeting expecting a march.”

Mnisi said the forum has no idea how the miscommunication came about but that the meeting on Saturday was not in any way a march.

“The residents are very angry about the rate increase because it shows disrespect and disregard for the people as well as the economic state of the country as a whole.

“We believe the Ekurhuleni municipality doesn’t care about the residents nor does it consider factors like high unemployment rates and inflation,” added Mnisi.

Mnisi explained that it was unfair that Thembisa was the only town in Ekurhuleni that pays rates and taxes while the surrounding informal settlements such as Daveyton, Katlegong, Thokoza and more allegedly do not.

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He says that there is a lot of prejudice against the people of Thembisa because they are the highest paying town not only in Ekurhuleni but the whole country and yet they are overlooked.

The spokesperson of TCF said that as community leaders, they had a meeting with the police to finalise the details of the march and for them to understand the aim behind it.

The march will be held on July 20, with the meeting point being at the Rabasotho Open Space next to the Thembisa North Police Station and is set to begin at 08:00.

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