“I’m told that both residential and business customers are failing to settle their rates. This is why council has been struggling to pay its workers for such a long time and is found wanting in service delivery,” she said. She blamed councillors for letting down workers and the city by failing to take council management to task.
She urged them to stop management allocating themselves unnecessary and hefty allowances. “Councillors have a right to demand books of accounts from management and block them from giving themselves holiday allowances and any other unnecessary perks,” she said.
An audit by the Urban Development Corporation (UDCorp) unearthed that $2,4 million was lost in 2012 through tax evasion by 11 of the top council officials who were earning about $200,000 in non-taxed monthly allowances and benefits.
Chimene said the rot at the local authority has greatly disadvantaged the workers who are failing to pay their rents, rates, access medical aid services and settle their children’s school fees. She said all permanent council workers should access stands and not be penalised for failing to pay rates as they were not receiving their dues.
Chimene went on to threaten legal action against defaulting companies. “Local businesses are the chief culprits. They owe council huge sums of money in outstanding rates. They should pay their rates or we will get them arrested. All the money collected from these companies should be used to settle outstanding salaries,” she said.
Post published in: News