Response from the mayor

MIDVAAL, like all municipalities, collects debt in terms of a debt-collection policy. If a person's account is outstanding they receive a notice from the municipality.

Should they not respond to the notice by making a payment arrangement or applying for indigency, then the matter is handed to attorneys to commence with debt collection in terms of the law.

The legal firm issues a summons which is delivered by the sheriff of the court.

The debtor may choose to defend the summons or alternatively to pay the amounts due.

Should no response be received, then the sheriff of the court is instructed to attach movable property.

No immovable property is attached and sold without approval by the court and debtors are able to defend cases themselves should they choose to do so.

If, however, a household earns less than two state pensions combined, such a household is classified as indigent and all legal action is ceased.

Midvaal currently supplies free basic services to more than 3000 households or approximately 15percent of its population.

Midvaal, therefore, has policies in place to ensure that those persons who cannot afford to pay for services do in fact receive free basic services as per the spirit of the constitution.

In the case of Sonti Maseko, which you used in your article, you quote her as saying: "I was evicted because the municipality said I owed about R3000, including interest and costs, on rates and taxes.

"I have slips to prove that I did not owe anything," Maseko said.

It is a pity that you did not ask the municipality if this was indeed the case.

Maseko's account with Midvaal was outstanding for longer than seven years. During that period she received five notices from the municipality and five summonses from the sheriff of the court.

Maseko chose not to respond to any of these by either making a payment arrangement or by defending the summonses.

You will be able to obtain further information in this regard from the sheriff of the court or by requesting the details from the magistrate's court.

It is not clear why Maseko never provided her slips to the court. However, Midvaal was able to prove to the court that her outstanding debt with the municipality was more than R24000 and not R3000 as per your article.

Midvaal municipality was not an applicant or in any way involved with the demolitions mentioned in your article.

Midvaal was not approached by the court for comment nor were we aware that the demolition orders were issued.