National Taxpayers Union/Nasionale Belastingbetalersunie

Chairman:  Hilton Thorpe

St Francis Bay Residents Association is an apolitical organization. It was founded during the 70’s when St Francis Bay was still autonomous and not part of the Kouga Municipality. Since being incorporated into the Kouga Municipal area in 2000, service delivery has deteriorated at an escalating rate to the point where the town is looking decidedly run down. To add insult to injury we have recently experienced large increases in Rates and Taxes that are based an inflated Valuations Role and an extravagant inflated Municipal Budget. The Kouga Municipal area includes the towns of St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis, Oyster Bay, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Paradise Beach and Aston Bay.

St Francis Bay Residents Association decided to join the National Taxpayers Union, as we are not happy with the way in which our Municipal Officials and Mayor are dismissive of the concerns of ratepayers and mismanage funds. We are in need of legal and other advice on numerous issues. Our intension as an organization is to ensure that ratepayer’s money is used effectively to improve service delivery to all the communities within our area.

All the towns within the Kouga area are members of the Federation of Kouga Ratepayers and Residents Associations (FEKRRA). This body communicates with the Kouga Municipality on issues of mutual interest or concern.  The chairman of FEKKRA is Joe Oosthuizen.

Outshoorn Contact Leon Coetzee

Outshoorn is effectively operating without a local government as many of the elected and appointed officials have been fired for theft or corruption.  The residents of the town are waiting to have the municipality placed under administration.

Interesting letter from the chairman of the ratepayers association in Knysna: (Jaap Kelder’s replies are in italics…)

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Chair: Louise Burger katrivier@agrizone.co.za

Have objected to their municipal budget.

Affairs are running smoothly in Mossel Bay, as a result of strong presence by the RA and competent people in official positions.

Chairman (Ladismith) – Sandi du Plessis:  (Calitzdorp) Hennie Smit   marasmit@absamail.co.za]

• As a result of a meeting with the municipality, the RA managed to eliminate over-charging on the water accounts.
• The Calitsdorp RA has objected strongly to the considered purchase of a luxury car for the mayor.  Not only has this expense not been budgeted for, but it is considered an unnecessary expense agains the background of economic hardship that many of the town’s residents endure.

Chairman: Charl Vermeulen cfv@webmail.co.za
Things are going well in Carnavon because the RA has been active, intervening where necessary and preventing systems from deteriorating.