LUPANE Local Board is owed over US$700 000 by ratepayers, with government departments and ministries also behind on payments, which is crippling the local authority.
Lupane Local Board chairperson Thandolwenkosi Nyoni said the board was failing to provide critical services because of a financial squeeze.
“We are owed US$784 246. The revenue collection is very low and people are not paying their bills,” Nyoni said.
“So at the moment, we are trying to engage them on how best we can come up with a solution.
“We are also knocking on the doors of central government to assist us to get the bills owed by the companies, ministries or government departments paid.
“We will engage the Ministry of Local Government to help us to recover those debts.”
Nyoni urged ratepayers to clear their outstanding bills or make payment plans to avoid service disruption.
“We understand that the situation is not good due to hyperinflation and the economic situation, but we encourage our ratepayers to come to our offices and make (a payment plan),” he said.
According to Nyoni, the local board is pursuing other projects to boost its revenue streams.
“… we are also trying to come up with a truck stop at our bus terminus so that we can boost our revenue collection,” he said.
refurbish our local creche and create a fire department of fire.”
Source Southern eye
