Battle looms between City of Tshwane and civic organisations

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Another battle is looming between the City of Tshwane and civic organisations over estimated municipal bills and appalling service delivery. Many residents continue to receive exorbitant municipal bills, which they claim are not accurately recorded but estimated.

The Tshwane-based ratepayers advocacy group, the Lotus Garden, Atteridgeville, Saulsville Civic Association (LASCA) is threatening stronger measures to force the city to conduct proper meter readings to ensure accurate bills and to improve service delivery.

High municipal bills and a letter of demand from Tshwane are a nightmare for this 73-year-old Atteridgeville resident, Rebecca Sono. She owes over R32 000 and claims that she can’t afford it. Sono apparently tried to bring the problem to the attention of Tshwane officials but her cries fell on deaf ears.

Like many other parts of Pretoria, poor service delivery is one of the biggest frustrations for residents, especially those in townships. Many say the exorbitant bills they are expected to pay to the city, do not match the poor quality of services they receive.

LASCA wants residents to take a stand and not pay bills if they are estimated or if services don’t improve. With the inferior services experienced in parts of the Capital City, some residents support the boycott action.

“Why must we pay if we get almost nothing in return,” a resident said.

The City of Tshwane took a swipe at the president of LASCA for lobbying communities not to pay their bills.

LASCA has refuted claims that it instructed people not to pay their municipal bills, a move that could collapse the financially strapped Tshwane Municipality. The civic organisation emphasised that it is simply calling for fairness to protect the dignity of Tshwane residents, especially the poor. It says residents must pay for quality services and correct bills that have not been estimated.

“We want residents to pay for what they receive and consume, not estimated bills,” says LASCA President Tshepo Mahlangu.

LASCA and other civic organisations around Tshwane are planning mass action against the City on the 24th of this month, in a bid to force it to correct its bills, scrap the bills of those who can’t pay and improve the quality of services in townships.

Tshwane is already buckling under pressure, as it struggles to pay service providers such as Eskom and security companies.

Video: Tshwane residents consider payment boycott over services: Dr Levy Ndou