Violent protests by the community of Middelburg have forced the Steve Tshwete local municipality to put its tariffs increases on hold and to also delay the removal of non-qualifying people from its register of indigents, which exempts them from paying rates. 

Last week the community went on the rampage, barricading roads, setting alight a bus and forcing businesses to shut down in protest against a 3.9% tariff hike for rates...