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Rates withholding action

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Dear Ratepayers, Business and Civil Society,

The time has arrived that we as ratepayers of NMB Metro inform the politicians that we have had enough of all the empty promises they continue to make. The MEC Mr. Qoboseyana promised that we can count on him to stop the political interferences in the administration of the Metro. His failure resulted in the loss of a very competent City Manager, Dr. Lindewe. Due to this failure we decided to commence our dispute action.

We were further appeased when we met with the MEC in July 2013 when he made a public statement on national TV that the NMBM will have a new, permanent City Manager by the end of September 2013. He also committed that the NMBM will also have permanent Directors and the position of CFO will be filled. He further committed that should he fail this task before the end of November 2013, he will invoke Section 139 of the Constitution, dissolve Council and place the Metro under administration.

Therefore, we decided to grant him the three month to get the Metro`s vacant position filled. The end of November has come and gone and now the MEC is missing in action. The irony is that he is leaving the Provincial legislature after next years general election and is therefore staling on his promises, yet again. We are left with no choice but to force the Metro under administration with our withholding action. This in order to neutralise the political interferences so a competent City Manager can be appointed. The CM will then appoint and fill all vacant Director and CFO positions. This process is a pre-requisite to rebuilding the degraded infrastructure and promote this city as an investment destination that would create jobs and attract tourism.

Need to Know: The Metro has to serve you with a 14 days written notice at your home or place of business. Alternatively they must visibly place the notice on your building if you are not at that address before they allowed to suspend your services. This process includes prepaid accounts. The Collections Dept. at the Metro cannot suspend your service or deduct any amounts from your prepaid purchase or block your meter if your account is in arrears. If they do suspend your account without a 14 day notice, we will flood the CFO and Director of Budget and Treasury with emails. You may notify us and we will forward a phone number which you can call to unblock your meter without notice.

Due to the holidays now on our doorstep, we believe it won`t be wise to start a full scale withholding. You may find yourself away from home on holiday and the Metro may instigate collection procedures against you.We advise all to delay your full Metro account payment until the 16th – 18th December 2013. If you had over 11% rate or electricity increases, simply pay the amount before your account increased. It`s our right to protest against high unaffordable rate and electrical increases and we will do it by way of withholding our rates.

For your information there are 13 companies who are high energy users in the Metro and they are withholding 25% of their electrical charges, paying only 75% of their electricity account. If these companies are fed up and are legally protesting, then we need to follow their example and send a message to the Metro that enough is enough!

Regards

Kobus Gerber
NMB Ratepayers Association

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