Incorrect Tariffs Increases highlights ANC incompetence — DA
by Cllr Lornette Joseph — DA Ward 27 Councillor in Ekurhuleni
Date: 30 August 2021
Release: Immediate
Type: Media Statement
Following the passing of the 2021/22 budget for the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) by the failing ANC and its coalition partners, the DA was inundated with calls from frustrated residents over the erroneous tariff increases that were published by the City and communicated to residents.
Residents braced themselves for the steep increases that came into effect on 1 July 2021. Unfortunately, incorrect information was provided to councillors with incorrect figures and increases being levied to ratepayers accounts. As the DA, we brought this to the attention of senior officials and the ANC Mayor, Cllr Mzwandile Masina as well as his ANC appointed MMCs. However, the misinformation continued as residents and councillors struggled to get the correct information.
We all, regardless of political affiliation, rely on information, feedback, correct figures, timeframes, promises made by staff, officials, MMC’s and even the Mayor.
It is appalling that concerned ratepayers struggled to get the correct information from the City over the proposed steep increases. In addition, it has taken two months since the budget was approved to have the incorrect household water and sewer tariffs brought back to the council for amendment.
The impact of this error was not only that councillors were inundated with calls, emails, messages and social media interaction; it also had a ripple effect and caused unnecessary and widespread panic. How was a home that relied on a SASSA grant going to survive to just pay their utilities or even a home that was hit with COVID-19 and lost family members and income?
It took two weeks before the DA councillors were given the information of the error and only after we asked for it as we fought for the rights of residents. However, we have sub-sequentially discovered that the information had been shared internally. We question the motive of keeping the DA and residents of Ekurhuleni in the dark. This clearly highlights that the ANC and its coalition partners are not serious about service delivery to the communities of Ekurhuleni.
As the DA, we call for corrective measures to be taken against those responsible for this serious error and the MMC needs to account to the communities affected by the ANC’s incompetence. With service delivery at an all-time low and ratepayers frustrated over the misinformation regarding tariff increases, it is time for a capable party to govern Ekurhuleni and restore confidence.
#Time4Change
*ANC-Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)
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Cllr Lornette Joseph
DA Ward 27 Councillor in Ekurhuleni
083 847 4510
