Supreme Court of Appeal rules on non-payment of municipal rates and taxes

The Association of Democratic Alliance Councillors (ADAC) has given details of the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in the matter of Olga Rademan v Moqhaka Municipality, which deal with the powers of a municipality to discontinue the supply of electricity to payment defaulters.

The following is an extract from the judgment, which was delivered by Judge of Appeal T O Bosielo on 1 December 2011:

“As a means of getting the respondent [Moqhaka Municipality] to attend to their various complaints, which alleged poor service delivery, they [the appellants] decided to withhold payments of their rates and taxes. However, they continued to pay for their other municipal services like water and sanitation, electricity and refuse removal.

Notwithstanding various demands for payment, the appellant persisted in her refusal to pay taxes and levies. Inevitably, this impasse culminated in the respondent discontinuing any further supply of electricity to her."

The court ruled that the respondent [Moqhaka Municipality] was justified in disconnecting the appellant's electricity supply - without a court order.

The appeal was dismissed with costs.

RELATED POST IN THE COURIER - DIE KOERIER

Jou krag mag nie af

This week's good news story

Multi-million dollar plant to create 7,000 jobs

 

The construction of a $100 million state-of-the-art truck and passenger car plant in the Eastern Cape will see nearly 7,000 jobs being created. Read more ...

 

SA - the Good News via BuaNews

Ontwikkeling by Jeffreysbaai kry 'n hupstoot

Anri Hendriks
Die Burger, 3 Desember 2011

Jeffreysbaai en omgewing kan lag-lag die derde groot nywerheidsone in die Oos-Kaap word, en daarom is ontwikkelings soos die Crossways Farm Village uiters belangrik.

Dit het mnr. Gugile Nkwinti, minister van landelike ontwikkeling en grondhervorming gister gesê by die bekendstelling van die bouwerkfases van die 'dorp' by Thornhill, naby Jeffreysbaai.

Die uiteindelike ontwikkeling [van Crossways Village Farm] sal uit 747 wooneenhede bestaan, sowel as 'n landbou-deel met 'n suiwelplaas en 'n opleidingsentrum.
Berig verkort.

Die ANC voltrek sy kreeftegang

Dawie
Die Burger, 3 Desember 2011

Dit is tragies om te sien hoe ’n groot en magtige beweging stadig maar onstuitbaar in die rigting van ’n afgrond beweeg en terselfdertyd deur sy geestelike en intellektuele verlamming nie in staat is om óm te draai nie.

Dit het met die ou Nasionale Party gebeur. Dit gebeur tans met die ANC. Lees verder ...

Ho-hum. Selle ou ANC-storie.

Spotprent deur Fred Mouton in Die Burger, 2 Desember 2011

Councillor’s plea for assistance

Councillor Danny Benson (Ward 2) wrote as follows:

“There are the poor, but there are also those who are poorer. Some people can still go out and try to find a job that they can buy food, toys or clothes for their children so that they can also have a smile on their face this coming festival season.

But what do you do if you cannot leave the house to try and find a job because you have to look after you wife, who after dental surgery in a State hospital, was paralysed?

Now, 10 years later, Thomas Jantjies and his two children Nocama (14 yrs.) and Anele (12 yrs.) are still struggling to cope with their situation.

Priscilla (35 yrs.) is physically and mentally handicapped and relies on her family to feed, clean and clothe her. “She was a very lively and a hard working vegetable vendor, who was also a firm but loving mother,” Thomas, said.

All Thomas wants is to paint the house, have something for his children to eat and see them happy. He says this tragic incident has robbed his daughter Nocawa of her childhood because she partly fulfils the role of her mother now.

All Nocawa wants for Christmas is to reverse the dental surgery that robbed her of her mother, to have some food, toys and clothes.

We as caring human beings may not be able to reverse the surgery, but perhaps we can contribute towards her other wishes of food, toys or clothes.

There are many such stories in our communities and as a Councillor I appeal to my colleagues and community leaders to find such people and assist then in their need.

Those who want to contribute can contact me, Councillor Danny Benson at 0737664816; Fax 042 2920726.”

Suid-Afrika ly onder interne stryd in ANC

Hoofartikel, Beeld, 29 November 2011

Eers moes “een man, een stem” plek maak vir “ ’n beter lewer vir almal”. Nou, 17 jaar later, is dit net “die party bo alles” wat oorbly.

Dít is die verhaal van die ANC se onvermoë om suksesvol van bevrydingsbeweging na regerende party oor te skakel.

Die agterdog, paranoia en binnegevegte in die party het ’n nuwe laagtepunt bereik met die uitsprake van mnr. Gwede Mantashe, sekretaris-generaal, vroeër die week ná ’n vergadering van dié party se nasionale uitvoerende komitee (NUK).

Mantashe het sy mes ingehad vir “geheime agente” in die ANC wat inligting aan joernaliste lek. Lees verder ...