Sent: 04 Julie 2008 12:42 nm
Subject: Rates Dispute - Press Release
Press Release
Issued by the Combined Ratepayers Association of Durban
July 4th 2008
The Combined Ratepayers Association of Durban (CRA) has noted they have
not received a response within the designated time to their Letter of
Dispute, delivered correctly and properly to the city manager. This
implies that the council has accepted the terms of the dispute, and
Ratepayers Associations can now begin to pay rates into a trust account.
The only response has been a threat via the press from Deputy City
Treasurer Krish Kumar, that ratepayers will have their services
disconnected. CRA chairman Errol Hicks would like to reassure
ratepayers of the following:
1. Ratepayers cannot have their electricity disconnected as long as
their electricity account is paid. According to the National Energy
Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), a paid-up account cannot be
disconnected. A precedent was set in Colesberg this month, where the
municipal manager disconnected the electricity supply of a ratepayer who
was withholding rates as a result of a dispute. The case went to court,
the municipal manager was ordered to reconnect the electricity supply,
and the municipal manager was ordered to pay the legal costs in his
personal capacity.
2. It is common law that a debt cannot be offset against another
debt. Therefore the CRA would like to challenge the legality of the
council's proposed 'consolidated billing' where a single amount is
charged for combined rates and services. The council says it will,
according to their Credit Control Policy, allocate payments at their
discretion. The CRA believes that this is illegal and unconstitutional.
3. The CRA calls upon the Ethekwini Municipality to clarify the
issue of consolidated billing, as even the council itself appears to be
confused about how this will be implemented.
4. The CRA further calls upon all people who are unhappy with the
lack of accountability and service delivery from council to join their
local ratepayers association, as these associations are challenging all
aspects of local government that are unfair to consumers. They can
contact the following people:
North Durban: Irene Reed: 031 - 564-5326
Kloof/Gillits/Stockville: Alan Smaldon: 072 - 130-9135
Hillcrest: Lilian Develing: 031 - 765-1134
Waterfall/Crestholme: Bruce Henderson: 073 - 371-9214
Westville: Errol Hicks: 031 - 266-2467
Pinetown: Fred Lasky: 031 - 708-4436
Assagay: Lillian Davis: 031 - 768-1111
Merewent and Clarewood: Desmond D'Sa: 083 - 982-6939
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
this is a letter from Niki Moore
7th Avenue Communications
P O Box 1203
Hillcrest 3650;
Telephone: (031) 762-1419;
Cell: 083 - 758-4483
Skype: niki.moore
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