Docrra and ratepayers ‘kiss and make up’ over rates increase

Fur and feathers flew at the meeting between the ratepayers’ association and a small but vociferous residents’ group over the handling of KwaDukuza’s 2020 municipal budget last week, but also served to clear the air between the groups.

The Concerned Citizens Group, a small group of Ballito ratepayers was angry with the legal ratepayers’ representative body, the Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra), over its approach to the KwaDukuza municipality 2020 budget, and had accused Docrra of not fighting their corner with KDM.

The CCG had raised more than 6 000 signatures in a public petition, but felt they had been ignored by both Docrra and KDM.

Docrra called a meeting at Umhlali Country Club last Thursday with CCG and residents to diffuse the situation.

In anticipation of a stormy meeting, the meeting was chaired by Tim Tyrrell, regional representative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) best known for its opposition to e-tolling.

Docrra chairman Deon Viljoen told the meeting, attended by about 20 people, that the normal public participation process had been disrupted by Covid-19 lockdown and they had been given very little time to present objections to the municipal budget.

A major concern had been the proposed 6% increases to both rates and rebates. Docrra countered by asking for no increase in both categories.

They had also disputed the budgeted increases for councillors and municipal staff, which ignored the plight of ratepayers who had suffered loss of jobs or income cuts because of the lockdown.

There was a heated exchange when Ballito residents and CCG founders Riaan Venter and Mark Whitehead criticised Viljoen for failing to ask Docrra members for a mandate to negotiate with KDM and for not taking notice of the petition against the budget which had gathered more than 6 000 signatures from residents.

“Docrra did not do enough to hold the municipality accountable or engage with the community,” said Whitehead.

Viljoen said the executive had been given its mandate at the annual general meeting.

They had also placed their budget objections on the Docrra website 2 weeks before the closing date and had invited comments. They had received only 2 letters.

He revealed that 3 Docrra executive members had a lengthy meeting with KDM directors.

Viljoen said he had been pleasantly surprised by their attitude and preparedness to address Docrra’s concerns.

They and acting mayor Cllr Dolly Govender had been very aware of the petition and the level of public feeling about the budget.

In the end KDM had responded to Docrra’s request by reducing rates increase to 3% and the rebates to a similar amount.

Speakers from both groups stressed the need to hold the municipality and ward councillors – none of whom attended the meeting – accountable for community and service delivery issues such as streetlights, potholes, policing and correct spending of capital and maintenance budgets.

There was general agreement that planned salary increases for municipal staff and politicians had to be addressed urgently.

Tyrrell of Outa said the increases for senior staff and politicians were discretionary and reminded the meeting that President Ramaphosa had stressed the need to tackle lockdown challenges together.

At the end of the 2-hour meeting, the parties agreed to settle their differences and work together to address mutual concerns.

“I was angry but I am less angry now. I suggest we meet up with the Docrra committee and try to find a way forward to address our community’s concerns,” said Venter.

Viljoen thanked CCG for a constructive attitude.

“We are prepared to work and grow with you. We need help and supporters – we cannot do this alone,” he said.

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