The Thulamela Local Municipality's revenue department has begun issuing discounts to qualifying rate payers through its debt rehabilitation programme and write-offs to consumers to help them settle outstanding utility accounts before 31 January 2023.
During a media briefing, held at the Thulamela council chambers on Wednesday, 26 October, acting Thulamela mayor Nndavheleseni Lieba said the municipality had come up with the incentive scheme to help consumers settle their municipal debt. Many of the debts were incurred during the Covid-19 period, which resulted in economic hardship for both business and residential consumers. This four-month incentive scheme will be applicable between October 2022 and January 2023. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the discounts and settle their accounts.
Residential and registered indigent account holders with arrears will qualify for 50% discount, while business-account holders will qualify for 40% discount upon approval of their applications. Government departments, including schools and parastatals, may only apply for the incentive scheme's interest write-off exemption. Consumers are advised that the incentive scheme is limited to consumers with arrears of municipal rates and taxes and does not include traffic fines.
"We also receive funds for municipal infrastructure grants (MIG) every year. Rate- and taxpayers help us to speed up service delivery, such as refuse removal, and improve services like gravelling of roads in rural communities. We urge communities to pay for rates, so that we can continue to improve servicey delivery, even to the deep rural communities," said Lieba.
Ms Vhutshilo Nembudani, manager at the revenue department in Thulamela, said they did not charge rates to rural communities. Residents in these areas do, however, pay a development levy for their communities to be improved. She added that legal penalties would be imposed on those who failed to pay their municipal rates and taxes, should the deadline of 31 January come and they had not settled their accounts.