City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has announced that the demand by residents to pay a flat rate is well-highly impossible and absolutely no no.
Dr Moya made this announcement at an Imbizo that was held at the Nellmapius Hall on Saturday.
Mayor Moya was accompanied by all the MMC’s, councillors and officials.
The hall was fully packed, and community members were given an opportunity to asked questions and get clarity on service delivery matter.
City of Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya and female MMC’s received Mamelodi Sundowns soccer jersey from the deputy chief whip Collen Marishane.
According to the Mayor, the aim of the Imbizo was to introduce the newly elected administration of the City of Tshwane to the residents and to share the vision that the new administration has.
“Our conversation with residents would not be complete if we didn’t hear what members of the community had to say themselves,” she said.
“We came here knowing about the water crisis that started four years ago in Ikageng Section in Mamelodi, we know about the frequent electricity outages, we know about the internal roads that are impossible to walk in, we know about the billing system, but it was important for us as the new administration of Tshwane to come here and tell the residents of Nellmapius and Mamelodi that we are aware of all the problems that they are facing as residents,” said Moya.
“In return, the residents of Mamelodi didn’t hold back as they spoke about the issue of the unfair billing system, they also raised the issue of them as residents connecting themselves illegally and on how the City of Tshwane hasn’t been helpful to them,” she said.
Moya admitted that the practice of using estimates instead of the actual amount of electricity or water consumed is really “killing the residents.”
According to the Mayor, residents want to know if it would be possible for their debts to be scrapped, and a flat rate approach be implemented.
“The issue of a flat rate is a no no and we explained to the residents that this becomes impossible due to the way legislation has been structured regarding flat rate and also because we are supposed to pay Eskom and Rand Water,” said Moya.
“Residents owe the City of Tshwane Municipality about R26 billion and we must first look at the debtors’ book and clean it up, but that doesn’t mean we will cancel people’s debts without recourse, we must have an approach regarding how we are going to deal with people who have connected themselves illegally and also deal with the indigents who are in the indigent programme but are being billed unfairly,” she said.
“In addition, residents raised the issue of water outages, potholes and lack of internal roads” she said.
“One other issue that the residents of Mamelodi have raised is that they want spaza shops and we have communicated our stance as the City of Tshwane Municipality in terms of the by-law that we have approved in Council, and we are intentional about reserving spaza shops for locals only, and the by-law will go out for public participation soon,” said Moya.
She said there will be an Imbizo with current and aspiring spaza shop owners at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane on Monday 2 December 2024 at 14h00.
Deputy Mayor and MMC for Finance Eugen Modise pleaded with the residents of Mamelodi to come forward and get their municipality bill in order.
“Those who have connected electricity illegally come forward so city of Tshwane can help you and we won’t arrest you or charge you.
On Monday I want to see the municipality office in Mamelodi flock with residents fixing their municipality bill, I’m pleading and begging residents of Mamelodi please go, and we love you and care about you and us don’t want to let anyone in the dark and that is why we are doing this,” pleaded
with residents of Mamelodi Deputy mayor Modise.
He said the city of Tshwane is no longer fine R29 000 rands for those who connected illegally but they fine R9 000 thousand rand. The city also looks at the background and how much a person can afford.
“We are planning to call imbizo in ward 10 because we received lots complain from the residents.
The are more problems on that ward and it is a problematic ward and need our urgent intervention and we will intervene,” said Deputy mayor Modise.
MMC for Utility Services Frans Boshielo also pleaded with residents of Ext 11 and Ext 37 to work together with ward councillors and city officials in filling the green form so that they can get electricity.
“We have a program called electricity for all and there are areas residents don’t want to fill those green form.
“Please fill them and return them to councillor or official so that everyone can have electricity,” he said.
MMC for Enviromental and agriculture Management Obakeng Ramabodu also warn those who do illegal dumping.
“If a truck is seen doing illegal dumping will be fine R15 000 thousand rand and an individual will be fine R5000 thousand rand.
MMC for community and social development services Palesa Modise pleaded with elderly and child headed family and those who qualify to come out to apply for the indigenous program.
“We have free service in Tshwane those who qualify can get free 12kl water, 100 k of electricity and free refuse removal,” she said.
“I’m appealing to residents of Mamelodi to come out and help clean the Eerstefabriek road.
let’s help each other and work together to clean it up and open the road together, we will make sure all the projects that were neglected by the previous administration we will take over and finish them, said MMC for road and transport Tlangi Mogale.
“I’m so happy to see the mayor and her team in Mamelodi and imbizo like this we last attend them during Kgosientso Ramokgopa time in office.
I wish the mayor and her team to continue doing good work and i believe we will see her more often on the ground,” said Katlego Lebesha.
“I am so happy, and I got the clarity on everything, and I wish the mayor and team to call more of this imbizo to learn more about our problems,” said Rebbeca Mashego.
“I see the new administration is hardly a month, but I see it working so hard and the results speak for itself,” said Lawrence Raphasha.