BREAKING NEWS: Newcastle Municipality responds to protest memorandum
Newcastle Municipality has provided its response to concerns raised during public protests at the end of August.
Newcastle Municipality has given its feedback to concerns raised at recent public protests.
Municipal management hosted a media briefing today (September 14) to address these matters.
Feedback was provided by Mayor, Makhosini Nkosi and Municipal Manager, Errol Mswane.
Cllr Nkosi discussed each of the memorandum’s points at length.
The first concern noted in the document was the fluctuation of municipal rates bills.
His response noted the 6.2 per cent increase had not been implemented at that time.
The belief was that increased rates bills were the result of increased consumption alone.
He provided an example of municipal payments to Eskom to substantiate his claim.
According to Cllr Nkosi, these payments increased dramatically during the ‘high season’.
In terms of the block tariff, the municipality was already seeking to remove this system.
However, Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) first asked for a study to be undertaken.
It would then consider the application.
“It is indeed our intention to do away with the block tariff, but it is not something we can just change immediately; change overnight.”
Cllr Nkosi said it was being reviewed however and would provide feedback at a later stage.
For the full details of this feedback, read next week’s edition of the Newcastle Advertiser.
