GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - A group of Graaff-Reinet stakeholders will launch an online petition against the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality’s proposed tariff and salary increases.
The municipality proposed an 8% tariff increase for the 2020/2021 financial year, and applied for a 4% increase in councillors' salaries.
“Such an increase is regarded as insensitive and mindless in a time when residents are suffering the economic effects of the Covid 19 shutdown,” the stakeholders, which include Sias Smith (on behalf of the Graaff-Reinet Action Committee), Melvis Pietersen (Umasizakhe Water Crisis Committee), and John Biggs and Liz Buisman (Graaff-Reinet Residents’ & Ratepayers’ Association), said in a statement.
The group plans to launch a non-political online petition, appealing to CoGTA minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Cogta EC MEC XE Nqata and Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality’s mayor, Deon de Vos, to reverse all municipal increases.
“The organisers of community groups are appealing to all to sign the petition [when published],” the stakeholders’ statement read.
The municipality was approached for comment on 18 June, but have not yet responded.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
