BITOU NEWS - Property owners and ratepayers of the broader Rheenendal community, outside Knysna, have noticed what appear to be unusually high services and rates fees charged to their accounts by Knysna Municipality over the past several years, and have decided to form an association to provide an independent review and work with the municipality to resolve identified issues.

The area includes Highway West and Bibby's Hoek.

Initially, said Craig Bester, chair of the recently formed Rheenendal Ratepayers' Association (RRA), several ratepayers had meetings with the local ward councillor. "However, the meetings were generally unsuccessful and after the councillor did not arrive for the last arranged meeting in August, the ratepayers decided to formally organise into a representative body," he said.

Bester said the rates issues were discussed during the RRA AGM on 4 September. "The ratepayers have decided that the issues are significant enough and likely go back far enough to merit addressing using the available mechanisms of the Municipal Systems Act." he added.

According to Bester several landowners say they have recently been charged for services such as refuse removal which they do not receive.

"We have also received multiple queries regarding the property valuations over the period 2012 to 2018, which in several cases appear to have increased to a higher rate than normal or reasonable," he said.

Bester noted that they have no centralised water reticulation and energy comes directly from Eskom, "for which users pay a premium relative to urban users", and that several residents say they are paying for services they do not receive, while other landowners report a large increase in their rates in general.

The aim of the RRA is to determine an appropriate rates and services fees regime, and to monitor the exchange of services and local development implemented by the municipality, Bester said. "We are looking for a way to resolve these issues with the municipality.

They have instituted some welcome measures, but there is more to be done," he added.

Deon van Zyl, a Highway West resident and respected community member, agreed wholeheartedly with Bester.

"We are not arguing and saying we shouldn't pay at all, but we are disputing the fairness of what we are paying, taking into account what services we get, and what residents in town are paying," he said, adding that the problem for many is what seems to be the incorrect valuating of properties.

In its response, the municipality said it notes residents' concerns and is pleased to know that they would like to work with the municipality. "We have forwarded the concerns to the finance directorate to investigate.

However, it must be noted that with regard to individual issues each case is different – we ask that residents who have queries regarding their municipal accounts, contact the municipality."

Harkerville residents' case
In Bitou, Harkerville residents are also fed-up with the lack of service delivery.
"We pay our rates and taxes, but we have to take care of our own rubbish, sewerage, water supply, electricity and road maintenance," said local Janet Harding.
Until five years ago the area was zoned as agricultural, residents say, but then it was changed to a rural lifestyle area. Last year, however, the area was rezoned as a residential area, meaning residents no longer qualified for rates rebates.
They said the way to qualify for a rebate is to prove that their properties are being used for farming and to register as such with the SA Revenue Service.
Local Magriet Ferreira said residents have to remove their own rubbish and drop it off at the local transfer station along the N2.
Residents buy electricity directly from Eskom, use boreholes and rain collection tanks to supply their household water and use septic tanks to deal with sewage.
Bitou Municipality committed to comment on the issues raised.
– Yolandé Stander

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