Ratepayers Association shocked by rates

Would the inconvenience of load-shedding outweigh rates increases?

Some residents believe the answer is yes.

Following last week’s article, bearing Mayor, Afzul Rehman’s stance on the matter, community members and the Newcastle Ratepayers Association (NRA) remain dissatisfied.

The NRA addressed a letter to acting Municipal Manager, Errol Mswane this week.

In this correspondence, members of the NRA appealed for meter readings to be conducted on a fixed period, and meter readers be deployed each and every month.

“People receive their accounts and only read the amount at the bottom,” explained NRA chairman, Chris le Roux.

At present, the NRA has stated reading periods have fluctuated, which created variances in the bill amounts.

This has been the source of continued upset among the community.

Venting their outrage on social media, the situation was further compounded by SMSes from the Municipality, warning residents of upcoming payments amid cautions of disconnections.

NRA member, Phil Hair was among those who received the message on Tuesday.

“Many would not even have received their accounts, and already face a disconnection notice – how can one pay without their bill?”

Mrs Hair and Mr le Roux both felt insulted by the SMSes, believing the Municipality should rather target payment defaulters directly.

This and more have been under the NRA’s scope for some time.

Numerous letters addressed to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) have yielded little in the way of response.

Likewise, residents are still on the hunt for answers.

“This non sense of estimating is a load of bull because I don’t see how can one estimate wen no1 has been around to take meter readings in God knows how long!!!!” (sic) exclaimed Ugeshan Pather on the Newcastle Advertiser Facebook page.

A local businesswoman had more to add on the matter, in an email to the Advertiser.

She was one of the first to suggest load-shedding would be preferable to residents scraping around for the money to feed families.

“We, the people, are prepared to live with load-shedding as every other town and city is. People will have food at least.”

She appealed to Cllr Rehman, as the head of the town, to take responsibility for ‘the food which was taken away from children’s mouths because parents had to pay these exorbitant bills’.

“I have nothing to lose; it’s time for change and time we are given our dues.”

These matters have been addressed in an email to the Municipal Communications Department, which is expected to respond as a matter of urgency.