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WEDNESDAY August 28, 2013 |0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | peexpress.mobi | www.peexpress.co.za
EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
MUNICIPALITY WARNED THAT RATES WILL BE WITHHELD
Ratepayers declare dispute LIZEKA TANDWA
M
ORE than a thousand Nelson Mandela Bay residents have already signed a letter of dispute against the municipality.
This is part of a campaign initiated by the local Rate-Payers Association as part of their action plan against what they call the mismanagement of the city by political heads. Nelson Mandela Bay Rate-Payers’ Association Chairperson, Kobus Gerber,said they have had a great response from many businesses and community members for their campaign to ensure a better Metro. “There has been a lot of instability in the past few years and we have had enough of political interference with the day-to-day running of the Bay. We, as rate payers, have now decided to issue a petition of demands to the MEC of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, to manage the current state of the city.” The letters of dispute were initiated on August 9 and will be handed to the Municipality (NMBM) tomorrow (Thursday, August 29). The letter will also be handed to Qoboshiyane and the Minister of Local Government,Derek Henekom. Gerber said they would deliver the dispute documents to the NMBM to warn them of a legal dispute action resulting in a “withholding of rates” by ratepayers, followed by a well-structured document to Qoboshiyane for a 14 day response to dissolve the council. “If the MEC fails to agree to our demands we will go to Hanekom and national government where-upon we will start withholding rates.” According to Gerber, they took this action after the political interference which led to the resignation of the Municipal Manager, Lindiwe Msengane-Ndlela. Gerber said the Ratepayers’ Association have had countless meetings with the metro’s municipal role-players and Qoboshiyane on the state of the metro but little has been done to solve any of the disputes. “We have had enough of the dysfunction of the Metro and the empty promises we have been subjected to as rate payers. The response generated by our petition, by both business leaders and the public,is a sign that the people of this city
are tired and enraged by the leadership of the Metro and want immediate action to be taken by the province,” said Gerber. Started 3 years ago, the Rate-Payers’ Association decided the time was right for ratepayers and citizens to show who is the “boss” of their finances. “We are a voluntary committee who have spent thousands from our own pockets and hundreds of hours because of our frustration, concern and the general public outcry on the mismanagement, corruption and political infighting which has led to the crippling condition of the city finances,” Gerber said. In response Qoboshiyane said that he is aware of the Rate-Payers’ Association’s campaign and that he had already sent his team of delegates to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber offices to meet with the Association,with regard to their demands on Monday morning. Qoboshiyane said he would take the letters of dispute into consideration and meet with the ministry of Local Government, to discuss further actions to be taken.“We are greatly concerned by the current state of the Metro. Cities should work transparently with rate payers and municipalities have to take ratepayers into consideration when it comes to spending. We are working towards resolving the instability in the NMB,” said Qoboshiyane. Alarmed by the rate payers threat to withhold rates, Qoboshiyane promised that they would appoint a competent Municipal Manager and recruit the managers needed by the Metro’s administration by no later than the end of September. “The matter of withholding rates by the public would create more instability to an already unstable city. We advise against this action and ask that the public allow us to resolve the problems,” said Qoboshiyane. Due to PE Express going to print on Monday, details of the meeting between the MEC’s task team and the Rate-Payers’ Association could not not be obtained before going to print. Gerber said they were aware of the meeting with Qoboshiyane. He said public meetings would be held at a later date yet to be announced. For more information and the letter of dispute which is available for all NMB citizens to sign and download, visit the Rate-Payers’ Association website at www.nmbratepayers.co.za
Flash Mob highlights plight of abused animals
The Boardwalk hosted Robyn Palmer’s postmodern Flash Mob for the Animal AntiCruelty League on Saturday. A group of 36 drama students from the Rother Swain Drama Studio and Pearson High School took part in a silent protest to highlight many areas of animal abuse and to create an awareness of these. Their mouths were taped to represent the silence of those who cannot speak for themselves. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
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