According to the mid-year financial assessment report, more than 16 councillors were found to be in arrears on their municipal accounts.
In June 2013, consumer accounts for water, sewage, refuse removal and rates showed that councillors were in debt for approximately 90 days and more.
One councillor who, according to the report, owed a total amount of R45 859, claimed he had no knowledge of his accounts being in arrears.
“I don’t know anything about this. I will have to go and verify,” he said.
Another councillor, whose bill was in excess of R55 000, questioned the right of the media to publish the report. “Some things are private, why do you want to publish these things?” she asked.
Contributing to the massive bill was another amount of a whopping R273 053, owed by another councillor, who could not be reached for comment.
Sources at the municipality speculated that the large amounts could be attributed to faulty meters.
The source further claimed that councillors were asked to contact the council speaker to arrange payment of these outstanding debts.
Contacted for comment, the mayor, Afzul Rehman, requested a meeting with the Advertiser to address issues raised in the assessment report.
