The Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville and Saulsville Civic Association (Lasca) has called on the incoming local government in Tshwane to address long-standing grievances about municipal bills, by scrapping all outstanding debts allegedly caused by billing inaccuracies.
At a public meeting in the Atteridgeville community hall on Friday, Lasca leader, Tshepo Mahlangu updated residents on action taken since their service delivery marches in August and January, against “unacceptably high and inaccurate municipal bills.”
"The first task of the incoming government of local unity should be to scrap all outstanding municipal debts," Mahlangu said.
The community’s frustrations were particularly directed at the former DA-led multiparty coalition government, which was accused of withholding a crucial council report from August last year. This report had been intended to facilitate the writing off of residents' debts.
"We are vindicated that the City of Tshwane under the DA-led coalition deliberately withheld the write-off report to further punish residents, especially those in townships and informal settlements," Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu pointed out that under former Mayor Cilliers Brink, unused funds allocated for township development were returned to the National Treasury, exacerbating the residents' grievances.
Friday’s gathering coincided with the recent political upheaval in the City, that saw Brink ousted through a vote of no confidence. Residents expressed hope for meaningful change with the impending establishment of a new administration within the next fortnight.
Mahlangu said:"The new administration must prioritise the tabling of the write-off report and scrap all historical debts.”
He also called for improved service delivery, local employment initiatives, and the cessation of reliance on consulting firms.
He said the aggressive revenue-collection campaign known as Tshwane Ya Tima, which disconnected those in arrears from the grid, must end.
Previous instances of fraudulent activities, where residents were targeted by impostors posing as municipal officials to extort money, were condemned. "We asked SAPS to work with communities to arrest these extortionists from credit control and revenue protection departments," Mahlangu said.
In June, the City issued a media statement cautioning residents about these impostors, noting: "The City does not call customers to inform them that their accounts are in arrears and that officials are coming to disconnect them. As part of the City’s revenue collection programme, technicians are dispatched without warning to disconnect properties in arrears."
Pretoria News