Editor
With reference to your article in the Estcourt News on the water account arrears that will be written off by Uthukela District Municipality (UDM), I want to express my utter fury and disgust regarding this matter!
If I’m not mistaken, Uthukela Water took over the water affairs from Estcourt Municipality in 2004.
For years the debate about corruption and unlawful price hikes in water tariffs, was fought by certain parties in this town.
While this was playing out, some citizens in Estcourt paid the old water tariff as was implemented by the local municipality, some paid the new tariff and some didn’t pay their water accounts at all.
Isn’t it a fact in life that price hikes on all consumer goods occur all the time?
Does this mean everyone can refuse to pay the new increased rate on electricity? Or petrol?
Or the new interest rates on monthly instalments on property or vehicle sales?
As South Africans we complain about all the corruption that is occurring in this country, but what does this decision of UDM displays other than corruption?
If you didn’t pay your water account at all, or if you paid the “old” rate, you get a pat on the back, because your debt is simply written off.
The “foolish” people in this whole scenario are the law-abiding citizens that paid their accounts at the end of every month, as stipulated by Uthukela Water.
There will be no compensation for the person that paid his account on a regular basis, as is required by ALL citizens of this country!
We are the laugh of the town.
How does the UDM justify it, when there are people in Estcourt that didn’t pay for water at ALL for the past ten years?
Can I demand then NOT to pay for water for the next ten years, because I DID pay for water the PAST ten years? That will be fair, won’t it?
What is the message we are portraying to our children? If you adamantly demand and refuse not to pay for goods purchased; it is rewarded by your accounts being written off.
It is your “right” not to pay a price for an item as stipulated by an authority if you do not agree with it, or if it is not to your liking.
The “responsibility” as a lawful citizen of any society to pay your debts, does not apply. Thus, dishonesty is rewarded.
Shame on UDM!
Furious Resident
