An appalling decision

The city council has unilaterally decreased the threshold on properties from R3million to under R2m for a pensioner’s rebate.

The city council has unilaterally decreased the threshold on properties from R3million to under R2m for a pensioner’s rebate.

Published Sep 25, 2017

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Letter - The latest clandestine action of the eThekwini Municipality against pensioners is outrageous. The city council has unilaterally decreased the threshold on properties from R3million to under R2m for a pensioner’s rebate.

The municipality used a double-edged sword to squeeze the 20% of ratepayers who sustain the city by raising property values on one hand and reducing the exemption level on the other, thus prejudicing most ratepayers who are in the middle-income group and many of whom are in the 60-plus age bracket living, on a fixed income.

A better option would have been for the municipality to have levied a nominal amount on every property owner, irrespective of the value of the property, which would have helped to contribute to the fiscal basket.

In this way the masses could be educated to respect public property and not vandalise and destroy that which belongs to the public.

What is disappointing is that the opposition and watchdog in the council did not agitate strongly or reject this insidious move.

The electorate had anticipated a more vigorous objection from the DA and could have rallied support to get rid of the inequitable system. But it is too busy running after President Jacob Zuma and too preoccupied with bizarre actions like its attempt to dissolve Parliament.

The DA spends a lot of time chasing shadows and forsaking substance.

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