The City has vast resources to defend the three items of their budget, something that is far beyond the financial capabilities of the thousands of ratepayers who objected to the budget to bring multiple legal challenges," states Nilesh Ambaram Gopal of Sapoa
The first draft budget was published for comment on 27 March, introducing the three fixed charges, which caused a public outcry Sapoa objected on several grounds, along with a protesting petition of more than 10 000 signatures that was submitted to the City No fewer than 14 000 comments were made during the public participation period Virtually all commentators strongly objected to the first draft budget, mostly against the fixed charges Changes were made to the first draft budget in May by the City, resulting in the publication for comment on the revised draft budget
In the revised draft budget that was passed on 26 June, the City stated that it sought to alleviate the impact on lower and middle-income households by the introduction of rebates
However, Sapoa holds that these reductions and rebates do not detract from the fact that the fixed charges are unlawful and should not have been introduced in the first place
Sapoa says a continued rise in municipal costs has a significant detrimental effect on the costs of occupancy faced by tenants in commercial retail properties
If municipal costs push charges past a certain limit, tenants struggle and landlords must help, but their options are limited Leases can become unaffordable, leading tenants not to renew According to its Operating Costs Report, by June last year, electricity made up 29% of total operating costs, while municipal charges accounted for a staggering 60%
According to Sapoa, the tariffs linked to property values do not comply with the Property Rates Act
It points out that the three tariffs are not based on consumption It is not a surcharge based on a basic charge nor a municipal tax Sapoa considers the tariffs a form of property rates as they are linked to property value, but points out that they do not comply with the Property Rates Act
LEGALITYOFVALUE-BASEDCLEANINGLEVY
The cleaning levy will be funding general cleaning on council property, litter picking and providing other services like illegal dumping removal and informal settlements He points out that section 229(1) of the Constitution states that a municipality may impose rates on property and surcharges on fees for services provided by the municipality, and submits that the cleaning tariff has not been adopted as a property rate in terms of applicable rates legislation
Furthermore, Sapoa states it cannot be a surcharge on fees charged for services because a surcharge is an additional percentage "profit" on the consumption tariff and not a tariff linked to property value It also cannot be another permissible tax because such tax must be approved in terms of national legislation, which has not happened
WATERANDSANITATION
The organisation further holds that fixed water charges are also irrational, arbitrary and contrary to the rule of law as entrenched in the Constitution
The organisation also notes that, until now, the fixed water charge was based on the pipe-connection diameter, and the fixed sanitation charge was tied to water usage Thus, they argue that property owners who invested in alternative water systems to reduce consumption after the Day Zero crisis are now being penalised These improvements raise property values, which under the new tariff system, results in higher water charges, a move Sapoa calls irrational
"Traditionally, due to the fact that sanitation output from a specific property cannot be measured, these charges were calculated as a percentage of the relevant property's water consumption charges
This meant there was some correlation between the property's water use and its sanitation use There is however no rational connection between the cost of delivering sanitation services to
residents and property value This offends against the user pays principle and is in contravention of the Systems Act, nor is it authorised by the Constitution, and other relevant legislation "
Whilst Sapoa regularly engages on property issues and seeks cooperation with municipalities, it says repeated attempts to address members' concerns with the City of Cape Town were unsuccessful As a last resort before litigation, Sapoa requested a legal opinion justifying the link between tariffs and property value, but the City declined
'SAPOAPROTECTSPROFITSOVERPEOPLE'
In response to Sapoa's High Court Application, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Sapoa's attempt to stop Cape Town's pro-poor budget is to protect their own vested interests, and puts their profits ahead of the people of Cape Town
"Sapoa represents the country s wealthiest and largest property owners - mainly shopping mall owners - who have benefited significantly over the years from Cape Town's functionality and success However, they now argue that the City should charge the biggest property owners the same as individual low-income families," he stated
"The City simply cannot agree that wealthy property owners should be charged the same as lower-income or middle-class households This would be regressive, would place a disproportionate burden on ordinary families, and would be patently unfair "
He holds that the City's budget protects homes under R2,5 million and extends rates relief to many more middle-class homes, all whilst preserving the City's critical infrastructure and service investments
"In contrast, this court application by the richest of the rich property portfolio holders seeks to go back to a system of regressive taxation which hits ordinary families, and the poor, the hardest," said Hill-Lewis
The Mayor said that if Sapoa were to succeed in their argument, the effect would be "to have ordinary families effectively subsidising the wealthiest property owners"
The City scrapped the old "pipe levy" charge because it was unsustainable for R50 million and R500 000 homes to make equal contributions to Cape Town's infrastructure and fixed service costs
"Fixed charges linked to property value is a lawful, more fair, and equitable way for Capetonians to contribute within their means to our city's infrastructure programme and fixed service costs," he said
The Mayor added that the City had engaged extensively with Sapoa, who had accepted the necessity of Cape Town's R40 billion infrastructure budget over three years, a South African record, but that Sapoa had offered no workable alternative means of distributing fixed infrastructure and service costs among ratepayers
"The only alternative to fixed charges linked to property value, is for everyone to pay a flat charge regardless of whether you are low-income or affluent This is not a sustainable nor fair way to fund infrastructure investment and the fixed costs of service delivery If a flat charge of say R500 is billed, and one household earns R20 000 whilst the other earns R100 000 a month, this charge represents 2,5% and 0,5% of their monthly income respectively This means the impact on the lower-income household is actually five times more than on the higher-income household, which is regressive and inequitable," said Hill-Lewis
The Mayor further said that fixed charges are necessary because all ratepayers need to make a contribution to municipal infrastructure and not only those who can't afford to invest in alternative water and electricity sources
"Cape Town would not have a working electricity or water service to speak of if the City only charged people for consumption Many costs are fixed in nature – pipelines, trucks, cables, staff to service it all These costs remain no matter how much people consume, and so fixed costs must be met with a portion of fixed revenue Infrastructure must be available for all and must always work To achieve this, costs must be borne by all ratepayers," said Hill-Lewis
Airportexpansion movesforward
The final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and supporting documentation was submitted to the department of environmental affairs and development planning (DEA and DP) on 11 July, concluding the public participation period
This came after the fourth and intended final round of public consultation regarding the proposed expansion of the Cape Winelands Airport was held in May Cape Winelands Airport formerly known
Disabled boy dies in shack fire
DESIRÉERORKE
A six-year-old disabled boy died tragically on Tuesday morning when a fire ripped through several informal structures in the Wallacedene informal settlement
60 and 80 residents “Sadly, one minor lost his life in the process ” Kraaifontein police took control of the scene and were expected to conduct a formal investigation into the cause of the fire
FINAL PHASE OF PUBLIC INPUT FOR AIRPORT IN DURBANVILLE COMPLETED
and navigational aids needed for safe operations in all weather conditions
The runway solution also includes drainage, pavement structures, paint markings and earthworks along with considerations for aircraft tracking
According to City of Cape Town fire-andrescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse emergency services were alerted to the blaze in Maroela Road at approximately 10:15 The child, who was reportedly sleeping on a couch when the fire broke out, could not be rescued in time, and his charred remains were later discovered among the remnants of the structures Firefighters worked for more than two hours to contain the blaze An estimated 20 homes were destroyed, displacing between
The scene of the blaze where the young boy died
Cityfightsdarknesswithlight
OVolunteers unite for dogs in need
DESIRÉERORKE
DESIREE RORKE@TYGERBURGER.CO ZA
Paint brushes, and plenty of heart were in action at CapeGate Shopping Centre this past Saturday as volunteers came together for the Dogbox Project’s Mandela Day festivities The mission, to paint 67 dog kennels to make life a little more comfortable for animals in need
What started as a once-off Mandela Day initiative in 2012 has grown into something much bigger Thanks to ongoing support from the public, the Dogbox Project is now a year-round campaign that gives back to shelters and
THE DOG BOX PROJECT IS NOW A YEAR-ROUND CAMPAIGN
pets living in tough conditions
“Blankets and food are always needed, but kennels are the real gamechangers,” organiser Adéle Lombaard told TygerBurger “They’re expensive, and most shelters simply don’t have the budget for them ”
67TEAMSBUILDHOPE
Making up 67 teams, volunteers from all walks of life, families, students and animal lovers rolled up their sleeves and got to
kennels will go a long way in supporting their ongoing rescue efforts
“These kennels make a huge difference,” she said “They provide protection for our animals, especially during the cold and wet winter months We’re incredibly grateful for the support ” Pawrent Village, fosters puppies coming from the area between Paarl East and Wellington, until they are ready for adoption Some puppies are so young that they are bottle fed for a few weeks Van Staden says their biggest need remains dog food
Rudi De Vries with his children Liham and Lara PHOTOS: DESIRÉE RORKE
Nicoleen Bothma van Brackenfell
Mariechen Du Tpit with Bryce Fortune. Charmaine Lombaard en Eric Smith van Durbanville.
g
wiele en vyf keer my maand se huur in onderdele Helm, waterbottel met GPS, lycra kortbroek en toe begin hy vleis eet Net vleis Vir ontbyt, middagete en aandete “Ek’s nou op ‘n karnivoordieet,” sê hy, terwyl hy ’n ribbetjie opwarm vir padkos
Dis maklik om te lag en ja, ek lag gereeld maar dan kyk ek weer My man is gesonder as ooit Hy slaap soos ’n stomp, dink helder en het energie soos ’n kind op stroop Hy sê sy stokperdjies gee hom lewe Hy’s kalmer; sy rug pyn nie meer nie
En al lyk hy soos iets uit 'n fliek fietsry, visstok oor die skouer, en n stuk biltong in die hand het iets in my begin verander
Want die waarheid? Ek’s jaloers Nie op sy stokperdjies nie, maar op wat dit vir hom doen - daai gereelde stukkie vrye tyd waar hy doen wat hy wil, waar hy leer, fokus en rus, al is dit op ’n fiets teen 'n bult op Ek het besef: stokperdjies is nie ’n luukse nie; dis ’n noodsaaklikheid Dis gesondheid op maniere wat pille nie kan koop nie Dis tyd weg van skerms Dis om jou hande gebruik, jou gedagtes stil te maak en iets met passie doen ’n Stokperdjie, al kos dit ’n bietjie (baie duur), gee jou terug op maniere wat jy nie kan bereken nie Dis selfversorging met ’n glimlag
En ek? Ek het my eie stokperdjies begin eerbiedig: slaap, rus en vrede Ek noem dit “sielkundige rehabilitasie met laventel en ’n boek” - dis goedkoop, dis effektief, en dit werk
Maar wie weet, dalk probeer ek eendag visvang (sonder om 04:00 op te staan), of dalk koop ek vir myself ’n tweedehandse kitaar
Want om weer iets nuuts aan te leer, kan dalk net my eie comeback wees
Laat ons nie onderskat wat ’n stokperdjie vir jou gesondheid kan doen nie Dis dalk nie net ’n tydverdryf nie dis dalk jou siel se medisyne -JOFOURIE
WOLKE WAAK OOR WRAK: Wolke hang oor die beroemde skeepswrak“Meisho
rotse beland FOTO: JEANNETTE BISSCHOFF
BRIEWE / LETTERS
Decades later, still no action
Thanks for highlighting problems brought up by residents at a public meeting ( "Residents call for Action", Tygerburger 15 July)
I intentionally did not attend the meeting as I knew it would be yet another talkshop - as usual! What was new? 20 year-old issues! Since 2016 the existing problems simply escalated
After years of criticism I endeared because of my stance against ward 26/27 it was with gratitude that Vasco topped the onslaught of irate residents
We even had Dan Plato then mayor with a busload of councillors tour the area decades ago Result? Zilch!
When Clive Justus was councillor, I raised the issue of the squatters who initially erected shacks at Wingfield
Subsequently the present regime housed illegal
Ek wil graag iets van my hart af kry
Ek was werklik ontsteld om te sien hoe mense op Mandela-dag weer eens kos uitdeel, net om dit met foto’s en video’s op sosiale media te wys Kwesbare mense staan in lang rye vir iets so eenvoudig soos sop, ’n toebroodjie of ’n pakkie, en dan is hul gesigte die volgende dag orals te sien Dit voel nie reg nie
Ek wonder net – doen mense dit omdat hulle regtig wil help, of doen hulle dit om gesien en geprys te word?
Dis amper asof die “goed doen” in aanhalingstekens gedoen word Wat het geword van nederigheid?
Van om net iets goeds te doen sonder om ’n foto of selfie te neem saam met iemand wat duidelik in ’n
immigrants there I dare any reader to go near the sight due to the indescribable filth and inhumane conditions
Voortrekker Road is a disgrace - prostitution flourishes; how certain "businesses" are allowed fails logic; squatters, homeless; illegal construction; overpopulated properties etc proliferate
House sales have reached record heights as law-abiding owners flee
And then, when a resident loses his cool, the councillor orders him "to leave my meeting" In November both ward 26/27 councillors simply did not turn up for a meeting which they called
There are some devoted councillors but regretfully others They are however safe as a bug in a rug
D BEELDERS, Vasco
iemand help
moeilike situasie is?
Ons het almal al gehoor: “Moet nie laat jou regterhand weet wat jou linkerhand doen nie
En dan is daar ook die Popi-wet wat blykbaar heeltemal geïgnoreer word
As jy sop wil uitdeel of skenkings wil maak – fantasties! Maar doen dit sonder die kamera, sonder die applous
Neem ’n foto van die pot sop of die pakkies, dis genoeg
Die mense wat jy help is steeds mense – hulle verdien respek en privaatheid al het hulle minder
Ek is regtig teleurgesteld in hoe ons as gemeenskap partykeer optree in die naam van “help” TELEURGESTELD, Eersterivier
Road markings raise safety concerns
In the article “Road markings missing” of 16 July, one is not sure what the City means by “capacity constraints”, but whatever it means, it reflects on service delivery As missing road markings creates a safety risk, it can be seen as an essential service which the City must deliver and of course, also maintain We are however of the opinion that there is also a problem with the service providers who delivers an inferior service If they add too much water with the paint it does not last long enough and there are no consequences and responsibility, they are paid as if it was a job well done
In the article “Safety audit suggested on dangerous road” also of 16 July we totally agree with Cllr Bresler “due to a shortage of manpower there is a general lack of visible traffic police on neighbourhood roads” However we are of the opinion it is more a lack of effective policing!
Maybe it is time for a Local Dialogue on these issues as well as others, and it does not have to cost R700 million NORTHERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY FORUM
Potholes a growing risk
In response to "Calls grow to fix crumbling Goodwood roads" (TygerBurger 16 July) and "Goodwood roads crumble in rain" (2 July)
Since the upgrade work on Jake's Gerwel Drive, which has stalled, these two roads are taking a beating
Concentrate on monitoring the state of the wear and tear on the roads, before the now visible potholes cause unnecessary incidents
As it's known now to the authorities these two roads are being used as a leeway, to try and avoid bumper to bumper traffic on Jake's Gerwel Drive TESSA LUCK, Goodwood
DAVID BATT GLO IN DISSIPLINE
EN HARDE WERK
AVRILFILLIES
Dis sy droom om die Hoërskool Stellenberg se rugby in die Premierliga van hoërskole-rugby te vestig en te help dat hul sterk rugbyprogram nog vir die volgende 100 jaar sal bly Dis hoe Divan Batt, hoofafrigter van Stellenberg se o 19A-span, sy liefde vir rugby by sy alma mater beskryf Batt, 'n skrumskakel, was van 1998 tot 2002 'n leerder daar en het in 2006 gaan rugby kyk en gevra om betrokke te raak by die agterspelers nadat hy 'n besering in klubrugby opgedoen het Van 2001 tot 2002 was hy in die eerste span en ook die kaptein in 2002 In 2003 is hy na Durbell en het vir hul o 20's gespeel voordat hy van 2004 tot 2007 vir Victoriane by Maties uitgedraf het In 2004 het hy ook vir die WP se o 20’s in die Curriebekerkompetisie gespeel "Wanneer ek met jong rugbyspelers werk, is dissipline, werketiek, hoeveel hulle insit en 'n positiewe benadering baie belangrik As afrigter is dit vir my ook baie belangrik dat beide spelers en mede-afrigters
moet inkoop in wat jou planne vir die jaar is Die ‘van die veld' geestelike kant van rugby is baie belangrik, want daar gebeur so baie van die veld en jy moet jou spelers reg bestuur en gemotiveerd hou Van ons leerders kom van oral uit die samelewing en dis hier waar veral mentors soos Gary van Loggerenberg, Pierre du Preez, alombekend as Duppie, en Andras Molnar, die spelers van die veld bestuur," sê Batt
MOTTO
Hy is 'n finansiële adviseur by CFBS, 'n franchise-afdeling van Ou Mutual en 'n franchisehoof Wat hy van sy werk op sy afrigting toepas, is dat jy altyd 'n student van die spel moet bly en altyd bereid moet wees om te leer
"My motto in die lewe is Actions always prove why words mean nothing My pa Robert en Dok Jannie Botha, die sportsielkundige, speel met hul wysheid, voorbeeld en daad n groot rol in my lewe Ek is 'n Springbok-ondersteuner vir die wat wil insit om goed te doen Die vyf P's hoe ek myself sal beskryf
is, proper planning prevents poor performance - wees altyd goed voorbereid vir elke wedstryd of uitdaging, respekteer elke span teen wie gespeel word dieselfde," sê hy
GHOLF
Om te ontspan speel hy gholf en hou van cross fit gym
As hy die kans sou kry om enige span of speler ter wêreld af te rig, sal hy wil gaan kyk hoe
Leinster se stelsels werk en hoe hulle dit regkry om jaar na jaar nuwe spelers te ontwikkel "My boodskap aan voormalige Stellies-spelers is om hul voete op die grond te hou en te weet waar hul krag vandaan kom Hulle moet elke geleentheid gebruik wat hulle kant toe kom en reg wees, want die bus stop net een keer Baie mense weet ook nie dat ek nie heeltyds afrig nie, en dat ek die beplanning en video-analises na ure doen of oor naweke en ook my veldsessies in die middae na werk doen Dis ook vir my belangrik om op rugbydae vanaf die o 14-rugbywedstryde al daar te wees om seker te maak ek sien elke groep se spelers vroeg in hul rugbyloopbaan, dit dan te volg tot hulle die skool verlaat tot hulle ander hoogtes bereik "Spelers soos die Blitsbokke Angelo Davids, Eugene Bosman en Ricardo Duarttee en die SA o 20-speler Damian Markus is almal produkte van Stellenberg op wie ons trots is Ons volgende interskole waarna ek uitsien is Saterdag 26 Julie teen Kwaggas, 2 Augustus teen Boland-Landbou, 9 Augustus teen Milnerton en 16 Augustus teen Durbanville "
Fists fly at PFL Africa tourney at GrandWest
Mixed Martial Arts history was made in Cape Town on Saturday as the inaugural season of PFL Africa started with a bang at the Grand Arena in GrandWest Costello Van Steenis closed out the show with an incredible comeback submission win to capture the PFL Middleweight World Championship, and Dakota Ditcheva shone in the co-main event to remain undefeated, while fighters from the bantamweight and heavyweight divisions advanced in the inaugural PFL Africa Tournament
In the main event, Costello “The Spaniard” Van Steenis (173), pulled off one of the biggest comeback wins in MMA history, submitting previously undefeated Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-1) with just seconds left in the fifth and final round to become the new PFL Middleweight World Champion Eblen, who came into the fight as the defending champion,
was seemingly on his way to a unanimous decision win after controlling almost the entirety the five-round war
CO-MAINEVENT
In the co-main event, 2024 PF Women’s Flyweight Champion “Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva (15-0) of the United Kingdom put on a striking masterclass a she demolished Sumiko “Lady Samurai” Inaba (8-2) of the Un States to earn a unanimous decision victory
Former Bellator Featherweig Champion AJ “Mercenary” M (23-2) of the United States was successful in his return to 145 pounds as he earned a unanim decision victory over Russia’s Akhmed Magomedov (11-2) Ou prove that he’s still “the badde man” in the Featherweight division, McKee turned in a well-rounded performance as he outstruck and outgrappled Magomedov for all three roun
Skole reg vir tweede helfte van rugbyseisoen
Ná die ongekende welslae wat die WP se skole-rugbyspanne die afgelope vakansie in die verskillende interprovinsiale kompetisies behaal het is een en almal vuur en vlam om die tweede helfte van die seisoen aan te durf Stellenberg (die voorste o 19A-span in die Tygerbergstreek) reis hierdie week na George om Saterdag teen HS Outeniqua sake te gaan “regstel” Verlede jaar se kragmeting het gelykop met 24-24 geëindig
Die vernaamste ander o 19Awedstryde van die Tygerbergse skole hierdie naweek is: HS Bellville t Hopefield, Durbanville t Brackenfell, DF Malan t HS Punt (Mosselbaai), HS Tygerberg t Milnerton, Melkbosstrand t HTS Bellville, Hottentots-Holland t Monumentpark, Parow t Groote Schuur, Tygerberg-klub t Collegians-klub, Fairmont t Kampsbaai, Scottsdene t Bellville-Suid –SARELBURGER
Divan Batt (links) staan hier by die mentors van die Hoerskool Stellenberg,Pierre du Preez en Andras Molnar
to get the impressive win Kicking off the PFL Champions
