Taking matters into own hands

Rates and tax revolts are either underway or being contemplated by ratepayer associations fed up at being forced to pay dysfunctional municipalities.

They are called “tax diversions”, rather than revolts, and are of questionable legality, but several ratepayer associations are willing to test the law.

Others are planning court actions to allow residents to take over the delivery of municipal services, as recently happened in Kgetlengrivier in North West.

The Umdoni Action Group (UAG) in Scottburgh was established in 2015 to protect the interests of ratepayers, tenants and residents.

It has opted for “tax diversion” to hold the municipality accountable for “crumbling infrastructure”.

The UAG launched a rates diversion policy in May last year after attempting to engage the local municipality to resolve their complaints, without success.

To get involved, ratepayers have to fill in a “declaration of dispute” form which the UAG e-mails monthly on behalf of all participants to the municipal manager.

The rates and taxes that would normally be paid to the municipality are retained in ratepayers’ own accounts.

“Should our complaints not be resolved within a reasonable period, we will impose on Umdoni municipality an ultimatum, in which we will reserve the right to effect repairs using the diverted funds and our own labour, contractors and material,” says the group’s call to action. –