Ratepayers’ Association for Thabazimbi?

THABAZIMBI –  The possibility of establishing a Ratepayers’ Association was not excluded at the public meeting which was held by the new Thabazimbi Chairpersons Forum on Thursday 7 August at the showgrounds.
The public meeting was called after much unhappiness in the Thabazimbi municipal district about the high property tax rates which has been levied since 1 July. The rate is on average 6 times higher than that of other municipal districts in the area with the same grading. Accounts, in some instances as much as 6 times higher than previously, have been received by residents.
Two weeks ago the municipality has agreed to postpone implementing the new property rates for an indefinite period in order for a proper process of public participation to take place. It has agreed that objections to the valuation role and inputs on the property rates policy can be made until the end of September. Until then, first semester 2008 property rates are payable and farmers will not be paying at all.
Despite these concessions the municipality has indicated to the Chairpersons Forum that the high property tax tariff of R0,0085/R was not negotiable.
In recent years ratepayers’ associations have evolved into associations responsible for providing services and infrastructure in towns where municipalities have failed to do so satisfactorily. In towns where insufficient services exist and the residents have managed to organise themselves properly, they have taken charge of running their own residential areas.
Residents’ payments for services and property tax go into trust funds which are managed and run by people appointed by the association to maintain, repair and provide services which is normally done by municipalities.
At the public meeting on Thursday it was clear that a confrontational approach was not supported, but rather that an agreement of co-operation with the municipality be persued. Before taking any drastic steps all other options must be exhausted, the leaders of the meeting urged.
District Manager of TAU South Africa North, Marie Helm, from Louis Trichardt, in addressing the meeting explained which steps to follow when a ratepayers’ association is formed. According to her a process of negotiations with local government must first be followed. Failing a successful outcome a dispute is declared by following a legal process, then only property tax can be withheld.
Towns in the Western Cape as well as towns such as Colesberg, Sannieshof and Swartruggens have created such ratepayers’ associations. For this a core of knowledgable people, with a variety of skills, need to be brought together, such as electricians, plumbers, lawyers and financial experts.
The  personal responsibility of each person in creating a better life for all in Thabazimbi was discussed. Philip Nel of the Thabazimbi Chairpersons Forum said that people must take responsibility for their lives and fulfil its God-given role of applying talents and looking after what has been given to them, in other words the town and environment. It was also said that residents should not sit back and wait for other people to do all the work around this dilemma.
The newly established Chairpersons Forum, which initiated the public meeting, represent organisations such as the TAU (Transvaal Agricultural Union) – Thabazimbi district, Rooiberg Home Owners’ Association, Leeupoort Community Association, property developers, tourism agencies, a home owners’ association in Kromdraai and business forum in Northam.
Functioning within proper structures are important, it was said at the meeting. Therefore it was decided that a similar association for Thabazimbi town be created. Three individuals have been appointed by the meeting to get a representative body for Thabazimbi town going. They are Nico Human, Hugo Coetzee and Tokkie Swanepoel. According to the Chairpersons Forum home owners in Northam and Regorogile must also form representative bodies for their respective areas.