The DA in Msunduzi today calls on the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma for his urgent intervention over billing dispute between Copesville residents and the municipality.
Residents in this community have received hefty bills reflecting years of unpaid rates despite the commitment by the Human Settlements to pay for their rates until they had received their title deeds.
They received their title deeds in 2019. A move that we welcome. However, the amount owed to the municipality for rates did not reflect on their bills, for years.
It has now been added by the municipality, but many families are struggling to pay. They have reported that they are receiving bills with amounts of above R20 000 and are expected to bring forward amounts between R4000 – R4800 as a deposit.
Many of these residents are unemployed, some are pensioners and registered as indigents. The DA had initially communicated with Msunduzi Accounts Manager, Marlon Hoskins and he had agreed to handle each case individually, but most residents came back with bad reviews. Most were sent to someone who told them to pay exactly what was given to them initially, which most residents cannot afford.
We are calling on the municipality officials to come out from their offices, visit this community and explain the situation and their plan to address it.