SEDIBENG.- The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) is owed over R365 661 943.00 in rates and taxes by Emfuleni Municipality employees, councillors, and Gauteng government departments.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, in a written reply to the questions tabled by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). DA’s Kingsol Chabalala said that the breakdown of the R365 661 943.00 owed to the ELM as per MEC Mamabolo is as follows:

• Emfuleni Municipality employees owe R4 410 252,00 in unpaid rates and taxes as of 31 August 2024.
• Gauteng government departments collectively owe R361 251 691,00 in unpaid rates and taxes as of 31 August 2024.

“According to the Municipal Structures Act, it is illegal for any municipal employee to owe the institution they work for. Section 10 of Schedule 2 of the Act states that “a staff member of a municipality may not be in arrears to the municipality for rates and services for more than three months. It is therefore unacceptable that employees at the ELM are violating this act and contributing to the collapse of service delivery in this municipality,” Chabalala said.

The DA demands that MEC Mamabolo intervene to ensure that government departments owe the ELM pay immediately.

“Additionally, the ELM must also ensure that its employees pay their rates and taxes. This money will go a long way in helping Emfuleni municipality deliver services and pay its debt to Eskom, Rand Water, and other debtors. The municipality cannot be held at ransom by delinquent employees and government departments who are fully aware of its financial woes. Furthermore, DA Councillors will raise this issue in council to ensure that action is taken against employees and those owing municipality,” Chabalala ended.