TLU SA today launched a protest action against unreasonable property taxes.
According to law, it is the responsibility of the municipality to ensure specific economic and social levels within an allocated area. Municipalities must undertake economic impact studies to be able to provide these services. It should also establish the unforeseen impact disasters will have on the financial sustainability of residents.
“In light of the disastrous economic impact of COVID-19 and the following lockdown measures on individuals and businesses, property tax rates should be adjusted,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “The authorities are obliged to offer relief during and after disasters so people can look after themselves.”
It is important to realise that property tax must be used to manage the entire municipal or district area properly. It does not only apply to service of a property such as waste removal, sewerage and sanitation, water and electricity. The municipality or district must ensure it is economically feasible for a person to make a living, be it through running a business or creating job opportunities.
“We must take responsibility for the country we live in,” says Mr Meintjes. “In a democracy, each resident must point out problems and continue until there is a solution. There is no sense in complaining about high property taxes and poor service delivery, but doing nothing about it. You must take on your municipality.”
With the Local Government Protest Action, TLU SA makes it possible for each person paying property taxes to object to services not balancing the services. All the necessary information is available on this platform to take on your municipality.
TLU SA stel vandag ‘n protesaksie teen onbillike eiendomsbelasting bekend.
Wetgewing verplig munisipaliteite om sekere vlakke van ekonomiese en sosiale toestande binne ‘n gebied te handhaaf. Die owerhede moet verder ekonomiese impakstudies doen om vas te stel of dienste relevant tot belasting gelewer word. Dit moet ook aandui watter impak onvoorsiene omstandighede op die ekonomiese oorlewing van die inwoners sal hê.
“In die lig van die geweldige ekonomiese impak wat COVID-19 en die gevolglike inperkingsmaatreëls op individue en besighede gehad het, moet eiendomsbelasting beslis aangepas word,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Die owerhede is verplig om verligting te gee sodat mense vir hulself kan sorg.”
Dit is belangrik om te besef dat eiendomsbelasting aangewend word om die hele munisipale of distriksgebied na behore te bestuur. Dit geld nie net vir die dienste van ‘n eiendom, soos riolering, sanitasie en vullisverwydering nie. Die munisipaliteit of distrik moet dit ook ekonomies moontlik maak vir ‘n persoon om ‘n bestaan te maak, hetsy deur ‘n besigheid te bedryf of werksgeleenthede te skep.
“Dit is baie belangrik dat ons verantwoordelikheid neem vir die land waarin ons leef,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “In ‘n demokrasie is dit elke landsburger se plig om probleme uit te wys en vol te hou totdat daar ‘n oplossing gevind word. Dit is van geen nut om te kla oor hoë eiendomsbelasting en swak dienslewering en dan niks verder te doen nie. Jy moet jou munisipaliteit vasvat.”
Met die Plaaslike Regering Protesaksie maak TLU SA dit moontlik vir enige landsburger wat eiendomsbelasting betaal om beswaar aan te teken teen tariewe wat nie die dienste balanseer nie. Al die nodige inligting is op hierdie platform beskikbaar om beswaar aan te teken teen onbillike tariewe.
