Several questions about the new billing system used by the Makhado Municipality were put to the spokesperson of the municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, a few weeks ago. Answers to these questions were received this week.

According to Bobodi, the reason for the separate rates account is a technical matter and the municipality is currently forced to combine the two accounts manually. No explanation for how the technical glitch occurred was supplied.

The issue of the size of the notice printed on the monthly statements, urging tax payers to enquire about their separate rate account, was also raised. The notice is printed in small letters on the front of the statement, which left the possibility of its not being noticed by many residents. In his answer, Bobodi indicates that the municipality had taken note of the possibility, but maintains that many people had in actual fact responded to the notice. Whether this was due to the notice itself or the fact that people had been made aware of it by the front page report in the Zoutpansberger, is an open question.

According to Bobodi, people will not necessarily have to come and queue at the municipality to acquire about their separate rates account; they can do so if they happen to visit the municipal buildings. In future, however, the accounts will be combined. One is also allowed to acquire the information by telephone, although Bobodi did not indicate this fact in his response.

Bobodi said that no additional counters will be made available to deal with these enquiries, and although the municipality is currently short of staff, those who are there are coping with the additional pressure.

The question was also asked whether the step of doing things this way is not unnecessary and too time consuming, since people will probably have to wait in more than one queue to complete the process of first acquiring the information and then going to another counter to pay the fees. Bobodi indicated that the information “has been sent to the public for noting and responding when necessary and not compulsory.” He also indicated that he found it hard to comment on the fact that many people find this turn of events as just another reason to withhold rates and taxes.

Lastly, according to Bobodi, there is no problem with the way in which property rates and taxes are currently being determined. The Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association’s objections to the valuation roll and how the rates have been determined, as well as the way in which the process has been handled therefore appear to be of no consequence to the municipality. No explanation has been provided on why residents were not charged for rates and taxes over the last three months.