Gamagara Council must stop protecting ANC councillors who are in arrears on their rates and service charges, or collectively risk breaching local government regulations. This comes amidst attempts by the Speaker to silence the Democratic Alliance’s (DAs) efforts to have Gamagara deal with councillor arrear payments.
The refusal to allow the DA to table a motion late last year, in respect of outstanding monies owed by Cllr Thapelo Tiroyanme and Cllr Edwin Hantise, speaks to double standards in the treatment of politicians versus regular ratepayers, in relation to their debt.
Tiroyanme and Hantise are in arrears of over R54 000 and R20 300 for properties in Dibeng and Diepkloof respectively. This is in direct conflict with the Code of Conduct, which states that a councillor is in breach when they are in arrears for longer than three months.
This is also in direct contravention of Gamagara’s credit control policy, yet no action is taken against them despite their arrear payments being more than 180 days overdue. In contrast, residents of Kathu, Mapoteng, Siyathemba and Olifantshoek, who are in arrears, regularly have their power cut off, even though their debt might not be nearly as much or as old.
Councillors are supposed to set a good example for ratepayers by paying their municipal bills on time. The municipal manager (MM) also has a duty to immediately inform councillors when they are in arrears for a period that is longer than two months, after which the councillor may either settle the account or enter into a stop-order payment agreement. The failure by the MM to take this seriously, also translates into a dereliction of duty on his part. The failure by the Speaker to allow this matter to be addressed in Council, can further be seen as a violation of the code of conduct.
The DA is demanding that Gamagara takes this seriously and that the Municipal Manager reports back to Council on this matter, as well as on all councillors in arrears, during the next council meeting.
Failure by the MM to report back at the next council meeting, on firm action to be taken, will leave us with no choice but to report the respective councillors, as well as the MM and the Speaker, to the MEC of COGHTSA.