North West residents are not paying rates and taxes because of lack of service delivery, while disgruntled ex-ANC members say poorly paid workers must also not pay.
This follows the North West local government and human settlements department reporting that municipalities across the province are owed more than R5-billion.
The debt-ridden municipalities include Mahikeng, Tswaing (Delareyville), Ditsobotla (Lichtenburg), Mamusa (Schweizer Reneke), Lekwa Teemane (Christiana), Kgetlengrivier (Koster), Maquassi Hills (Wolmaransstad), Ventersdorp and Matlosana (Klerksdorp).
Provincial local government and human settlements spokesman Ben Bole said the amount owed to municipalities amounts to R5.7-billion, of which R4.8-billion is outstanding for more than 90 days.
Mmabatho resident Olebile Mokoena said he did not see the purpose of paying rates because there are potholes in her neighbourhood and that the city, Mahikeng, is dirty.
"I know I owe money but why must I pay if the municipality does not take care of my area in return? There are potholes all over and our town is like a dumping site," he said.
Katlego Motlagodisa of Forum4 Service Delivery said there must be a standard policy on who should pay .
"The poorest of the poor must not pay. The government must implement a policy that says low wage earners and unemployed residents must not pay rates," he said.
The forum was formed by ANC members who lost during the ruling party's candidate councillor selection process. Many will stand as independent candidates in the August 3 local government elections.
Bole said in a bid to improve service delivery, his department would roll out a rates and payments campaign that will run throughout the month. He said the campaign would be rolled out in nine local municipalities which have highest debts.
"The main objective of the campaign is to engender a spirit of participatory responsibility towards the payment of rates and taxes as well as to inform, educate the public and business people about the importance of paying for municipal rates and taxes," he said.
Ephraim Motoko, head of the local government and human settlements department, said: "Municipalities are requested to start with consumer data cleansing in order to ensure that the billing information is accurate and correct.
He said poor data compromised the entire billing and credit management process.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
Residents scoff at R5bn rates and taxes debt
North West residents are not paying rates and taxes because of lack of service delivery, while disgruntled ex-ANC members say poorly paid workers must also not pay.
This follows the North West local government and human settlements department reporting that municipalities across the province are owed more than R5-billion.
The debt-ridden municipalities include Mahikeng, Tswaing (Delareyville), Ditsobotla (Lichtenburg), Mamusa (Schweizer Reneke), Lekwa Teemane (Christiana), Kgetlengrivier (Koster), Maquassi Hills (Wolmaransstad), Ventersdorp and Matlosana (Klerksdorp).
Provincial local government and human settlements spokesman Ben Bole said the amount owed to municipalities amounts to R5.7-billion, of which R4.8-billion is outstanding for more than 90 days.
Mmabatho resident Olebile Mokoena said he did not see the purpose of paying rates because there are potholes in her neighbourhood and that the city, Mahikeng, is dirty.
"I know I owe money but why must I pay if the municipality does not take care of my area in return? There are potholes all over and our town is like a dumping site," he said.
Katlego Motlagodisa of Forum4 Service Delivery said there must be a standard policy on who should pay .
"The poorest of the poor must not pay. The government must implement a policy that says low wage earners and unemployed residents must not pay rates," he said.
The forum was formed by ANC members who lost during the ruling party's candidate councillor selection process. Many will stand as independent candidates in the August 3 local government elections.
Bole said in a bid to improve service delivery, his department would roll out a rates and payments campaign that will run throughout the month. He said the campaign would be rolled out in nine local municipalities which have highest debts.
"The main objective of the campaign is to engender a spirit of participatory responsibility towards the payment of rates and taxes as well as to inform, educate the public and business people about the importance of paying for municipal rates and taxes," he said.
Ephraim Motoko, head of the local government and human settlements department, said: "Municipalities are requested to start with consumer data cleansing in order to ensure that the billing information is accurate and correct.
He said poor data compromised the entire billing and credit management process.
tshehleb@sowetan.co.za
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