CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town on Tuesday urged residents to continue paying their rates as the income received from rates and services enables the delivery of quality municipal services, and warned that stern action will be taken against serial defaulters.
The city added that in the current financial year it has made close to R3 billion available to provide rates refunds and indigent relief to qualifying residents. The proposed funding earmarked for social assistance in the next financial year was currently being discussed as part of the budget process.
He added that if those who have the means to pay refuse to pay for services that they use, it has a marked impact on the sustainability of the city. Neilson said the city would continue enforcing payment of outstanding debts through effective debt management actions, which may include, among others, the collection of all arrear debt through prepaid electricity purchases, property owners being handed over for adverse credit listing at relevant credit bureaus, and accounts being handed over for legal action to appointed attorneys to initiate legal recovery actions, which could lead to a sale in execution of the property to recover the...