Muni cut-off a blow to One Stop shop

MOKOPANE- Bosveld received a letter from a concerned tenant of One Stop Motors in Mookgophong after his electricity supply had been cut-off by the Mookgophong Municipality since April.

“I had purchased a premises located in Mookgophong in January 2005 and was waiting for transfer of the property. The municipality opened the water and electricity account on my name and the rates and taxes account on the owner’s name. The owner of the property applied for a clearance certificate, which would enable him to get transfer of the property and a guarantee for the amount was given to the municipality.

In 2008 the owner passed away and the property went into the estate and this delayed the transfer.

Now after 10 years the municipality has demanded payment from me, and the rates and taxes amount is R592 000.

I refused to pay this and asked the municipality why they didn’t collect the money from the owner for the 10-year period.

I even asked them if there was any special treatment given to him, since he was the previous mayor of Mookgophong.

I received a letter from the municipality in which it is stated: “We have been making attempts to consult the owner with no luck.

“We have eventually got hold of Mr (name withheld), who gave the municipality permission to shutdown the services since they hadn’t received any monies”.

The municipality switched off the electricity in April. I appealed this, but no luck. I feel that it is unfair for me to pay the owner’s debt.

I have a prepaid electricity meter and my account is not in arrears.

In a letter I received from AfriForum, it is stated: “With reference to the Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004, and regulations that read as follows in section 24: ‘Liability for rates’… ‘Property rates payable by owner, a rate levied by a municipality on a property must be paid by the owner of the property, subject to Chapter 9 of the Municipal Systems Act.’

I cannot see how they can hold you liable for outstanding property tax.”

I am losing a lot of money and have lost three generators so far as I have to run a whole filling station on generators, not to mention the immense cost of the petrol used for the generators.” Letter shortened by Editor.

• Municipal spokesperson, Mashudu Mabungu, said: “We are not at liberty to respond to this matter, because we are constrained by the court to engage with him, as he made the decision to take the municipality to court. Any engagement with him will be within the law, and will be done in court.”