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www.thevillagenews.co.za
Muni offers Covid-19 relief for ratepayers
Hermanus
Overstrand ratepayers who find themselves in financial distress as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown are advised by the Municipality that the following relief measures have been approved by Council to ease the detrimental financial effect of the lockdown on the local economy: 1. A temporary extension of the last date on which applications can be made by retired and disabled persons for special rebates Pensioners and disabled persons have until 30 November 2020 to submit their applications for a rebate on property rates to Overstrand's Rates and Data Control Office. This will afford ratepayers more time to acquire and submit the necessary documentation required for the approval of applications. Retired and Disabled persons qualify for special rebates on property rates, according to their total gross monthly household income. A rebate will be considered on the following conditions:
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The owner(s) must be a South African citizen(s) The applicant(s) must be the registered owner(s) The owner(s) must occupy the property as his/her/their primary residence The owner(s) must be at least 60 years of age or in receipt of a disability pension from the State The gross monthly household income must be less than eight times the state-funded social pension per month (<R14 880) The applicant(s) may not be owner(s) of more than one property
2. A further extended term of payment agreement for accounts in terms of the Overstrand Customer Care, Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy
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Businesses and municipal account holders (residential customers) who cannot pay their accounts, may enter into a further
Dial *120*310*14# and follow the prompts. *Standard USSD rates apply. SMS “Hermanus”to 45238 and we will call you back. *SMS charged at R1. Free SMSes do not apply.
Ts & Cs apply Valid till 31 August 2020
Keeping you safe, securing your assets.
extended term of payment agreement. Businesses: The period for businesses who find themselves under financial stress and cannot pay their accounts due, may be extended to include accounts for July 2020 and August 2020 respectively. Businesses can enter into an extended term of payment agreement, in order for the payments of the amounts due to be done in equal payments over a six-month period, without the payment of a deposit. Residential: The period for residential customers who find themselves under financial stress and cannot pay their accounts due, may be extended to include accounts for July 2020 and August 2020 respectively. Residential customers can enter into an extended term of payment agreement, in order for the payments of the amounts due to be done over a period of 12 months, without the payment of a deposit. 3. A temporary exemption of admin fee on arrear accounts Council resolved that the payment of the following fees for all notices given on arrear accounts during July 2020 and August 2020 respectively, be waived:
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SMS notification admin fee on arrear accounts 14 Days’ notice admin fee on arrear accounts, and 24 Hour notice admin fee on arrear accounts for bulk users
For additional information, contact your closest Municipal Office and they will gladly assist you. KLEINMOND: 33 5th Avenue, Kleinmond; Tel: 028 271 8400 HERMANUS: Magnolia Street, Hermanus; Tel: 028 313 8000/ 028 313 8111 STANFORD: 17 Queen Victoria Street, Stanford; Tel: 028 384 8500 GANSBAAI: Main Street, Gansbaai; Tel: 028 384 8300
Apology to Colonel Luthando Nosilela The Village NEWS published a front-page story, Local SAPS Commander tests positive, on 15 April 2020 (and online on 14 April) in which we reported that Hermanus SAPS Station Commander, Col Luthando Nosilela had tested positive for Covid-19.
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12 August 2020
This was after we had received a WhatsApp message on 13 April, circulated by Hermanus CPF, from Col Nosilela in which he thanked everyone for their support after he had tested positive. In the message he also stated: “I give you permission to tell the people it is Colonel Nosilela who is positive.” Following the message, The Village NEWS Publishing Editor, De Waal Steyn, made a call to Col Nosilela. The conversation lasted about ten minutes wherein Col Nosilela restated the information as contained in the WhatsApp message. Steyn asked several further questions, while taking notes and even reading back some
quotes to Col Nosilela. This led to the article published on 14 (online) and 15 April (print). However, a complaint was lodged by Brig Novela Potelwa, Western Cape Provincial Police Spokesperson, on behalf of Col Nosilela, who claimed that he had construed Steyn’s call as a “well-wish” and that at no point did the editor specify his intention to write and publish an article. He felt the information had been obtained dishonestly and it infringed on his right to privacy. The Village NEWS regrets this misunderstanding. We published the story in good faith based on the message and the interview. However, as Col Nosilela is genuinely aggrieved, we apologise to him for any harm that might have been caused by the publication of the article.
