The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) strongly condemns the proposal by the Lekwa Local Municipality (Standerton/Lekwa, Morgenzon) to raise property tax by 4,4%.
Property tax is meant to fund essential services, such as road maintenance, refuse removal, streetlights and the maintenance of public spaces, including parks and libraries.
And yet the reality in Lekwa paints a completely different picture. Roads are riddled with potholes that are rarely repaired and streetlights are not working. Refuse removal is irregular, creating serious health risks.
Fire and emergency services are falling short and lack resources, while community centres stand vacant. No maintenance is done on neglected parks and recreational facilities, which are also frequently vandalised.
It is unacceptable that the municipality expects residents to pay more while receiving less. Residents are paying their bills, but get dilapidated infrastructure and little to no municipal support in return.
Instead of addressing internal shortcomings, cutting unnecessary expenditure or improving revenue collection in defaulting areas, the municipality continues to burden those who are already contributing.
Hiking taxes for paying residents is not the solution, instead, equitable enforcement and responsible financial management should be ensured across all sectors.
The Freedom Front Plus calls on municipal management to get its priorities in order:
- Cut back on wasteful expenditure.
- Hold incompetent officials accountable.
- Deliver the services for which residents pay.
The Freedom Front Plus will not stand idly by while communities fall apart and taxpayers’ money is squandered. The party remains absolutely committed to ensuring fair governance and service delivery for all Lekwa residents.
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