Business community in Standerton lodges complaints about property tax increases
The argument from the business community is that the rates did nor comply with two pieces of legislation namely the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 and the Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act, 6 of 2004.
Businesses in Standerton are looking at hefty property tax increases.
Business property owners were advised to send a complaint via e-mail to several addresses, including Sjmtshweni@mpg.gov.za, registration2@pprotect.org, president@presidency.gov.za, CorruptionReports@saps.gov.za, inquiries@commissionsc.org.za, minreg@treasury.gov.za, mary.marumo@treasury.gov.za, info@cogta.gov.za and Mmnisi@lekwalm.gov.za
The cut-off date was Friday, 12 February.
“We will not be bullied as a community with illegal tax hikes,” Lekwa Ratepayers Association posted on their Facebook-page.
Mr Gary van Aswegen, vice-chairman, said on 12 February that the LRPA will not accept that the community and business owners have to succumb to illegal property rates increases and suffer financial damage because of it.
“We have on numerous occasions approached the Lekwa Municipality regarding this issue, with no response,” Mr Van Aswegen also said.
“It is clear that the municipal billing system is chaotic, with estimations on water readings and even electricity bills on empty properties, where there is zero electrical consumption.
“Be that as it may, it is not the residents who should be ‘strong armed’ into making up for their broken systems.
“We will not tolerate it.”
According to him, residents have also received threats that their electricity will be switched off if they do not pay.
“This is also illegal as the municipality personally have to give residents a week’s notice to rectify or justify their accounts.”
According to information, accounts indicated an 8,02 per cent increase in August and an additional 126,33 per cent increase in November.
The argument from the business community is that the rates did nor comply with two pieces of legislation namely the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 and the Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act, 6 of 2004.
Property rates increases were not advertised and no public participation was allowed.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted the caucus leader of the DA, Mr Rosier de Ville, on Friday, 12 February for his comments on the situation.
Mr De Ville said it can be blamed on municipal negligence since the annual increases for businesses were not implemented for a number of years.
“This once-off increase is unfeeling and was not done in the correct way,” he added.
He also said council was not consulted beforehand.
