General

Preposterous tax raised by Thabazimbi Municipality

THABAZIMBI – The Thabazimbi Chairpersons Forum who has already been in dispute with the Thabazimbi Municipality about the 2008 budget, has declared another dispute for the 2009/2010 Municipal budget.

In terms of this latest budget all landowners, and that includes owners of agricultural land, must pay preposterous property tax. According Mr Jan Viljoen, Chairman of the Forum, it seems as if, probably the lack of language ability, or expertise or willfulness, the relevant clauses and other municipal legislation, which in no uncertain terms describes the procedure to be followed before implementation can take place in the payment of municipal property tax, as a whole were ignored. It also includes the establishment of a municipal property tax policy as a prerequisite. He also mentioned that the apparent attitude of the Mayor in this regard is that he is superior to the law, and only the consent of the MEC is required in this total disregarding of the right of tax payers.

As a result of the dispute it was agreed between the Forum, the Municipality and representatives of the MEC’s office of Provincial Treasury and Local Government, that the property rates policy as a whole will be reviewed. In the process the prescribed procedure will be followed as provided for in legislation. Adoption of the policy can only take place if there is a clear process in place, which is clearly defined in legislation, which includes public participation.

The Forum wants to make a serious call to all property tax payers in order to react to the content of the document. If no input is received, the municipal councilors will assume that the public is satisfied with what is in place. It will also cause complications to the Forum entering into negotiations on behalf of the residents of our area. Therefore the public is requested to submit input on this current illegal property rates policy.

All written input must be submitted to the municipality by not later than 8 October 2010. The present policy is available at all municipal offices and on the municipal web site www.thabazimbi.gov.za

If you have any doubt what is expected from you, feel free to liaise with representatives of the Forum. We need your support, if we do not stand together now, the financial exploitation by the municipality will continue forever by the Thabazimbi municipality.

The following Forum representatives can be contacted: Jan Viljoen (083 325 6057), Gert Snyman(083 295 12840), Riana Bekker (072 671 9710), Tokkie Swanepoel (072 671 9710), Len Scott (083 770 1089), Angie Rheeder (083 655 6785), Philip Nel (083 394 0140) Albert du Buys (083 236 6097) Gert Gouws (082 415 6762) Sam Mumuno (078 465 0526), Stef Swanepoel (082 854 12800) and Sarel Marais (082 708 9120).