Ratepayers Newsletter No 31 March 2010

March 13th, 2010

The hot news of the moment is the statement by Local Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka, that he will take action against ‘white’ ratepayers who withhold their rates and deliver services themselves.  This was an unfortunate statement and has created a strong reaction – especially as the towns where the townspeople are withholding their rates and supplying services themselves, are the only towns where service delivery is improving.  We can only hope that the minister is persuaded to work with willing ratepayers, instead of trying to make them part of the problem.

PS – The most delicious irony is that the Minister himself is R40 000 in arrears with his rates and service payments! Read the rest of this entry »

Approved electricity tariffs

October 17th, 2009

to find the latest approved tariffs:

Go onto the NERSA website:  www.nersa.org.za

Highlight Electricity, go to Economic Regulation, click on that.

Highlight Electricity Tariffs and right-click on “Click here to download” .   This downloadable document contains all the approved tariffs for the different Metros and district municipalities.

Tweespruit – Ladybrand

October 17th, 2009

Chair:  Harry Lane  harrylane60@ovi.com Cell 0824388949

Tweespruit is a small town under the Mantsopa Muncipality in Ladybrand, Free State.
Read the rest of this entry »

Durban – Western Rural Community Forum

October 17th, 2009

Chair:  Julie Knatten   031 783 4953   julie.knatten@drummond.hk

The WRCF is a united ratepayers/residents Association [WRCF] formed to represent the areas of Drummond, Peacevale, Monteseel, Cliffdale, Hammarsdale, Harrison and surrounds.
Read the rest of this entry »

Barberton

September 8th, 2009

News from Barberton: Submitted by Andy Nuns.
Just so you have a record of it the following was the outcome of our meeting with the National Treasury and the Umjindi Municipality on the 7th August.
We had a 3 hour meeting with the National Treasury, the Municipality and the Valuators. Read the rest of this entry »

NTU – WATER CONFERENCE: Pretoria August 22 2009

September 8th, 2009

Summary of Proceedings:

Conveners and Organisers of the event:
Johan Botha/Thomas du Toit

Opening Address:
Johan Botha:
The main objective of the conference is to establish a network of expertise and to use the conference as a platform to expose water related problems experienced throughout the country. Read the rest of this entry »

Hennenman

August 26th, 2009

The town of Hennenman in the Free State has declared a dispute with its municipality.  The dispute document follows below: Read the rest of this entry »

Beaufort West

August 24th, 2009

Chairman:  Louis Reynolds   27824748550@vodamail.co.za

The rates in Beaufort West have gone up by 700-800% because of the new rating of farms.  There is, however, a provision in law that the minister can put a cap on increases and Louis Reynolds wants to know if anyone can assist him how they go about approaching the minister for help on this subject.

Louis Trichaardt

August 24th, 2009

Chairman:  Frans Prinsloo  015 516 0439

The people of Louis Trichaardt have become organised and are preparing the ground for action.  Their association has about 102 members, they have declared a dispute and are paying their rates into a trust fund.

Pietermaritzburg

August 24th, 2009

Chairman:  Ebrahim Asmall:  083 2623 276

At present – 1 July 09  – the Municipality has gone ahead an implemented the new rates despite the ~9000 objections and exercise done twice As well as the “PMB / Msunduzi”  Northern Areas Ratepayers Association having lodged complaints of major discrepancies
- I assisted with the analysis and found easily 10 000 residential errors in 60 000 entries residential & non residential => easily over 20% Valuations are flawed Read the rest of this entry »