R140K deferral bill shocks and stresses Bluff pensioner
Josephine Stone's 15-year rates deferral meant to be payable by her estate on her passing was suddenly cancelled.
A HEFTY bill of over R140 000 in rates has left a Bluff pensioner “extremely shocked and stressed”.
Josephine Stone, who has lived in the area for about 80 years, signed a deferral agreement with the municipality about 15 years ago.
According to her granddaughter, Caryn Ferriere, the agreement has now been cancelled and Stone is expected to make a payment immediately.
“The terms of the agreement were that she would no longer pay any rates on the property and any rates incurred during this period would be payable by her estate on her passing.”
“The letter we received said they were cancelling all deferral agreements with effect from Thursday, July 1 and that all rates incurred during the period were now due immediately. This being the sum of just over R143 000,” she said.
Seeking a way forward, the Yellowwood Park resident contacted ward 66 and 64 councillors, Zoe Solomon and Gavin Hegter, who both advised she contacts the rates department.
Ferriere said they reached out to both the rates and revenue departments and their answer was the same no matter how much they pleaded and begged for assistance.
“We even tried to lodge an appeal but again, they said we had only two options open to us. They could either offer us a payment plan under Covid Relief which allows you to pay a minimum of 5% of your total debt upfront and the balance with no interest over two years together with your current charges.”
“Alternatively, you may enter into a normal arrangement of up to three years but this requires a 10% upfront payment and the balance over 36 months plus current charges and applicable interest. Either way amounts to huge monthly instalments in the thousands,” she said.
Stone and her only living child, Ferriere’s mother are both Sassa pensioners, while she gets little to no work due to the impact of lockdown.
She said she can barely afford to assist them financially as it is with their monthly expenses and a rates payment was too far of a stretch.
A mainstream publication broke their story and they have since received correspondence from a legal representative at the Legal Resource Centre who is assisting them. The municipality has also offered them a better payment plan over a five-year term.
“Again, this is great but is still way beyond my gran’s financial means. We await feedback from the Legal Resource Centre at this present time. And the main thing is, any pensioner who signed a rates deferral agreement is now also in the same boat, so hopefully those in the same position will come forward too if they see this article,” she said.
The municipality’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said the amount in the statement is the accrued amount deferred over the years of deferral.
“The deferred rates agreement is applicable to all pensioners in the cityThe rebate has budgetary implications and current tariffs do not have allowance to backdate the rebate.”
“All deferred ratepayers were invited with the implementation of the new legislation to voluntarily move over to the rebate system, some chose not to change. Please also advise the customer to visit the Revenue Management offices if she still wants to query her account,” he said.
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