To boycott or not to boycott - 29 June 2010

In the light of recent calls for a local rates boycott, it is fitting to take note of the views of Clr. Nico Botha which he articulated in a newsletter to Ward 3 residents on 15 December 2009.

He expressed solidarity with local ratepayers who are extremely angry because they believe that the Kouga Municipality is riddled with mismanagement, nepotism, corruption, and inefficiency, not to speak of the perception that their rates are being squandered at such a rate that the municipality is heading for a financial crisis.

He wrote, “However, one must ask oneself: are our streets beyond repair; is our refuse and sewage removal nonexistent; is our electricity and water supply unreliable? Besides, how many ratepayers would be prepared to support a rates boycott? How certain are we that a court of law will agree that a boycott is justified? Can we afford prolonged lawsuits while the municipality uses our rates to fight us?”

Clr. Botha urged dissatisfied ratepayers to be aware of the fact that the municipality can take countermeasures against those who withhold their rates and taxes; that they might use payments for service charges to offset rates payments that are in arrears. “If this happens,” he continued, “the financial obligations with regard to water and electricity supply to homeowners could be viewed as being in arrears, with the result that services may be suspended.”

“So, what is the solution?” he asked

In his view, ratepayers should show the municipality that they are dissatisfied by writing letters of protest to local newspapers, and attending protest meetings in greater numbers. They should stand together, march together, and act together.

“Clearly,” he concluded, “unseating the ANC in the 2011 municipal election is the best solution by far.”