Metro residents hit by a double increase in rates

FOR Nelson Mandela Bay ratepayers, the municipal bill they will receive at the end of July is their first taste of DA government. For it is the first bill they will receive that follows from a DA-EFF-compiled budget.

Of particular interest should be the amount of property rates charged.

This follows from a public battle between the DA-EFF coalition and the ANC.

Ratepayers were to be hit by a double whammy.

First, a newly constituted property valuation roll took effect on July 1 – this raises the average valuation of all properties by 13% and thus the property rates on the average property rise by 13% because of this alone.

Second comes a “normal” annual increase.

Here the DA began by promising a further 13% increase.

The ANC would have none of this and fought all six months long here, until the DA-EFF finally proposed a 4.6% increase, which again the ANC rejected.

But the DA, proudly proclaiming that this was the lowest increase across South Africa’s metropoles, and their EFF partners propelled it through council.

Hence the average municipal property now has an 18% increase in property taxes, in the year General Motors closes, the economy is in reverse and the middle class is under siege.

But there are things to be paid for:

ý Some 506 air tickets in nine months, for a start, as mayoral committee councillors and senior officials venture off on premium-priced flights to where-all I don’t know;

ý Some R7-million in bonuses to already well-paid staff for overtime incurred in getting the new chart of accounts complete for installation on July 1 (it was not ready and could not be installed);

ý At least R75-million wasted on another year of bad decisions with regard to the IPTS;

ý Some R25-million to discount the neighbouring Kouga Municipality’s water bill (it is, of course, a DA council). And much else. Those of you who voted for change in August last year must be reassured by your latest property rates bill.

Change has come to Nelson Mandela Bay.

ANC councillor Rory Riordan, Port Elizabeth