So what are we doing about rates, pollution and fracking?
Landlords prefer it if the value of their properties shoot up. It means that they can sell the property for more
‘So what are you doing about this? It is pathetic you know and we need answers.’
The tone was mildly accusing. I dunno. So what are we going to do about the rates? Some of the increases have been huge – over 100% in some cases.
And the reasons are technical. No, it is not just the re-evaluations of properties on which you can blame the latest round of outrage in Endumeni.
Landlords prefer it if the value of their properties shoot up. It means that they can sell the property for more. So few will really object unless the new evaluation is crazy as a Council meeting. The issue in this woodpile is the formula applied to obtain a ‘rates reading’ – from just over four cents in the Rand to, since July 1, about 3.97 cents in the Rand.
This tiny decrease is far outstripped by the massive re-evaluations of properties – these are done every five years and unless you live in a ghost town, the value of all properties will increase. So what to do? Well, it is a good thing that The Bowman does not run the show otherwise there could be a few rounds of executions.
So, the next best thing to do is what the folk of the wonder years used to do: write letters, agitate with your ward Councillor and, guess what, how about breathing life into that moribund Chamber of Commerce which Mr Wade and Mr Soni used to run so effectively? A novel idea, eh? And while we are having a good moan and groan – a favourite pastime in the vicinity of Beaconsfield Street, you know – how about getting a posse out to do an ‘in loco’ inspection of that cesspool called the Steenkoolspruit? It is foaming with effluent. Sewage is leaking into the stream almost daily. This is over and above the constant dumping of household waste, which the river has to contend with. Despite all our technology, Internet etc it is amazing that we continue to put, to quote a mildly crude Afrikaans saying, ‘n drol in die drinkwater’.
So where will it end? Well, we have meetings about fracking. This is a perfectly normal thing to do as many are scared as to what this new technology will mean for the environment.
But how about a Steenkoolspruit meeting? Fracking is yet to happen but right now that river is a sterile piece of turgid water that snakes through our town.
So what are you going to do about it?
