Picket against botched Municipal billing
City ratepayer associations and councillors are ready to defend ratepayers' rights as they prepare to picket at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall today to protest against the municipality’s botched multiple billing system.
Anthony Waldhausen of the Msunduzi Association of Residents Ratepayers and Civics (Marrc), has spearheaded the picket, calling the process irregular and unlawful. He said Marrc has been engaging with the municipality, but they are not providing feedback on the new billing cycle.
“The rollout of the billing cycle has been poorly communicated and causing more confusion than before. Residents are unable to pay on May 15 and are deeply stressed out and anxious about being disconnected,” said Waldhausen.
Waldhausen requested that the municipality put this new billing cycle on hold and go back to the drawing board and start engaging all residents through workshops and better communication platforms.
Marrc is calling for an overhaul of the billing system and for the municipality to address the multiple billing queries from residents.
“We call on all residents to come out in their numbers to voice their objections. If our demands in the memorandum are not met within 14 days, we will embark on a class action lawsuit to stop the new billing cycle and to start all over again with proper public participation. We will also request the courts to compel the municipality to develop a programme to address the major billing crisis that are faced by residents,” said Waldhausen.
Rooksana Ahmed, DA Ward 31 councillor, said councillors were answerable to the ratepayers. The frustrations, concerns and stresses, she said, were a result of the manner in which Msunduzi's finance department handled the billing system rollout.
“The workshop for councillors was only held a few days after residents were issued with the double billing. At this workshop, we were informed that this process was on the table as far back as 2021. The question immediately then was why was there no communication or why was this not done as a presentation at portfolio or council meetings,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed said some of the main issues include the lack of communication and no public participation to create awareness and input from ratepayers for the past two years. Due processes were also not followed. Then to add to the anger, residents were sent notices from the municipality to choose to be billed on either the 15th or the 30th. Now residents have been refused this option. This is being forced on residents.
“I also raised the issue that we were informed that this is being done due to incorrect billing, etc. The bottom line is it once again ONLY applies to ratepaying wards. These ratepaying wards are targets every time the municipality comes up with ideas on how to fill their coffers. Of serious concern is that 80% of the 2nd account for the 15th is estimated. And they seem to be doubled charges on the estimations,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed highlighted the point that most elderly people do not have access to social media and therefore would not have been properly informed ahead of time.
“Even if arrangements are made, it will still not be viable as people do not have two incomes within 15 days,” she said.
Ahmed said she will be meeting with a senior manager from the finance department to obtain responses on queries from residents.
Craig Freese, chairperson of the Eastwood Residents and Ratepayers Association (ERARA) said they had a meeting with the mayor, deputy mayor, municipal manager, ward councillor Roy Ram and the ward 34 war room committee as well as Msunduzi Municipality department heads.
“Due to some matters, responses outstanding that deal with critical feedback, ERARA will get in writing. The overall meeting was productive, hence the proposed new billing cycle and objection letters on tariffs feedback remain a bone of contention as we await feedback from the revenue department, especially with tariff letters of objections,” said Freese.
Jimmy Naidoo, chairperson of the Northern Areas Residents and Ratepayers Association (Narra) said many residents, from pensioners to indigent households as well as the middle class, have indicated they are already cash strapped based on the inflated bills they currently receive.
"They are now being forced into an unreasonable arrangement for arrears they didn't create. Narra has joined all ratepayer associations in the picket and stand with all our residents and ratepayers. We, as paying consumers of the municipality, are always getting short changed. It's now time to stand up and say enough is enough," said Naidoo.