Stop The Billing Cycle In Msunduzi
The Issue
JOIN THE MARCH ON THE 5th MAY & STOP THE MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY
City seeks R400 Million Eskom Bailout, The Msunduzi Municipality will apply for debt relief from national Treasury. Applying and qualifying for the relief, Msunduzi will stand a chance of having about R395 million written off in three years, with about R41 million of interest charges.
The unilateral decision taken by the Msunduzi municipality to change the billing cycle to twice per month. The complete disregard for the residents of Msunduzi Municipality is an indictment of the failed ANC-led municipality.
Proper consultation and communication on any proposed changes would need to be undertaken with all communities and residents in the municipality and thereafter brought to full council before adoption. The failure to follow any consultative process has caused widespread confusion and distress amongst residents of Msunduzi.
Under administration, and as such having been allocated two CoGTA Ministerial Representatives to oversee the business of the municipality, as well as the allocation of a finance expert, the municipality is still implementing ill-informed decisions that are causing chaos and untold hardship to the residents of the city.
Why has the allocated finance expert not been present on finance portfolio committees to exercise their advisory role? Where are the CoGTA ministerial representatives and what are they doing to assist in stabilizing the city?
It is unacceptable to expect residents to pay for services twice a month as a means to address the municipality's cash-flow crisis.
The burden of maladministration and poor financial management by the municipality is now being passed onto residents who are already suffering due to the increasingly high cost of living. Had the municipality undertaken attempts to grow its rate base to above 40%, to improve its cash flow, it would not need to further burden existing rate-payers, and it would not be in this predicament.
Residents are now also expected to pay proposed tariff increases, well above inflation, twice a month on services that the municipality itself is struggling to provide.
The DA, we are working with our DA KZN Provincial Spokesperson for CoGTA, Martin Meyer, who will be urgently engaging with the CoGTA MEC and officials to intervene.
The DA In Msunduzi will be marching on the Pietermaritzburg City Hall On the 05th May 2023 requesting that this decision for twice-monthly billing be halted until proper process, consultation, and communication are pursued. We call on the residents of Msunduzi to stand with us as we march for our city.
The residents of Msunduzi Municipality have had enough. Residents cannot be expected to pay billing twice a month, with proposed tariff increases, whilst receiving fewer services. The DA will continue to do everything in its power to stand with our communities against this failed and uncaring ANC-led municipality.
Msunduzi Billing Horror:
DA calls on residents to join DA March
by Hannah Winkler, MP - DA Midlands Constituency Head
Release Date: Date: 19 April 2023
Please Note That this media statement has been shortened & highlights added.
6,012
The Issue
JOIN THE MARCH ON THE 5th MAY & STOP THE MSUNDUZI MUNICIPALITY
City seeks R400 Million Eskom Bailout, The Msunduzi Municipality will apply for debt relief from national Treasury. Applying and qualifying for the relief, Msunduzi will stand a chance of having about R395 million written off in three years, with about R41 million of interest charges.
The unilateral decision taken by the Msunduzi municipality to change the billing cycle to twice per month. The complete disregard for the residents of Msunduzi Municipality is an indictment of the failed ANC-led municipality.
Proper consultation and communication on any proposed changes would need to be undertaken with all communities and residents in the municipality and thereafter brought to full council before adoption. The failure to follow any consultative process has caused widespread confusion and distress amongst residents of Msunduzi.
Under administration, and as such having been allocated two CoGTA Ministerial Representatives to oversee the business of the municipality, as well as the allocation of a finance expert, the municipality is still implementing ill-informed decisions that are causing chaos and untold hardship to the residents of the city.
Why has the allocated finance expert not been present on finance portfolio committees to exercise their advisory role? Where are the CoGTA ministerial representatives and what are they doing to assist in stabilizing the city?
It is unacceptable to expect residents to pay for services twice a month as a means to address the municipality's cash-flow crisis.
The burden of maladministration and poor financial management by the municipality is now being passed onto residents who are already suffering due to the increasingly high cost of living. Had the municipality undertaken attempts to grow its rate base to above 40%, to improve its cash flow, it would not need to further burden existing rate-payers, and it would not be in this predicament.
Residents are now also expected to pay proposed tariff increases, well above inflation, twice a month on services that the municipality itself is struggling to provide.
The DA, we are working with our DA KZN Provincial Spokesperson for CoGTA, Martin Meyer, who will be urgently engaging with the CoGTA MEC and officials to intervene.
The DA In Msunduzi will be marching on the Pietermaritzburg City Hall On the 05th May 2023 requesting that this decision for twice-monthly billing be halted until proper process, consultation, and communication are pursued. We call on the residents of Msunduzi to stand with us as we march for our city.
The residents of Msunduzi Municipality have had enough. Residents cannot be expected to pay billing twice a month, with proposed tariff increases, whilst receiving fewer services. The DA will continue to do everything in its power to stand with our communities against this failed and uncaring ANC-led municipality.
Msunduzi Billing Horror:
DA calls on residents to join DA March
by Hannah Winkler, MP - DA Midlands Constituency Head
Release Date: Date: 19 April 2023
Please Note That this media statement has been shortened & highlights added.
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Petition created on 19 April 2023