‘Accounts problems won’t disappear by ignoring them’

VANDERBIJLPARK. – “I’m a God-fearing, law-abiding senior citizen who hasn’t even received a parking ticket in the past 20 years. Why does Emfuleni deem it necessary to threaten and victimise me over a flawed municipal bill?
“I don’t owe them a cent!”
These are the words of an elderly gentleman who, according to the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), owes them more than R11 000, but his paper trail shows that he in fact has a credit.
He is one of apparently thousands of Emfuleni ratepayers who have pending disputes regarding their municipal bills but are now threatened with legal action and confiscation of their property by debt collectors, appointed by ELM.
According to Mari Myburgh, chairperson of the Emfuleni Ratepayers Union (ERU), municipal officials are to blame for the chaotic monthly billing system.
“There is clearly not a commitment to serve the interests of our community, and the symptoms are clear for all to see – corruption and mismanagement of funds,” she alleges.
Before ELM hands over accounts to debt collectors, they are obliged by law to be certain the account is just and lawful, says Myburgh.
“I urge residents and ratepayers to present a “paper trail” (written disputes) to ELM to prove their commitment to find a solution to a very serious problem we can call harassment.
“During a meeting I had with a ratepayer last week (February 4), debt collectors phoned him five times, threatening him.
That is just one of the many cases I know about where the ratepayer received a summons, while he can prove that he is not guilty of non-payment!”
Myburgh says she had a meeting with Municipal Manager Sam Shabalala and Customer Care Manager Mpfaraleni on June 25 last year.
“I presented them with proof that written disputes are mostly ignored by ELM.
“During that meeting Mr Shabalala promised to appoint one person at Customer Care to receive disputes, and to distribute it to relevant parties. It never happened. Another empty promise.
“Residents, ratepayers and taxpayers, this town belongs to us all.
“We should not be held hostage to the whims of incompetent municipal officials and their lackeys.
“It’s always been my position not to stir up a hornet’s nest, but ELM’s indifference regarding disputes compels me to take a less tolerant route. Our municipal manager took it upon himself to ignore my pleas regarding ratepayers and their disputes. You cannot make it disappear by ignoring it.
“I have copies of disputes pending results and thousands of residents have disputes pending results.
“We all deserve a non-political way to solve the problem of incorrect accounts and the harassment by debt collectors,” says Myburgh.
Your right regarding accounts and disputes:
It will serve all residents and ratepayers well to take note of some of your rights regarding accounts and disputes:
1. Act 32 of 2000 Sect. 95
(MSA) requires a municipality to establish a sound customer management system.
You must be handed a correct municipal account, and the means to object if you have a valid reason.
2. Act 32 of 2000 Art. 102(2).
The municipality is precluded from applying any of its credit control policies until such time that the dispute has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. Accordingly, the municipality will not be entitled to enforce any form of debt collection proceedings against the ratepayer until the dispute has been resolved amicably.