Emfuleni councillors owe the municipality R370,000 in unpaid rates and taxes

VANDERBIJLPARK - Emfuleni MMC for Finance Hassan Mako revealed an Emfuleni municipality councillor has accumulated around R133,000 in unpaid rates and taxes over the past year, with nine other councillors owing a total of R370,000, from June last year to June 2024. He said the councillors who owe are five from the DA, three from the EFF, one from the ANC and the ACDP. Mako dismissed any blame on delayed salary payments, calling the non-payment deliberate. In a written reply to questions posed by the DA in the legislature, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance, Jacob Mamabolo, reported that Emfuleni municipality employees, councillors, and provincial government departments owed over R365 million in unpaid rates and taxes. According to Mamabolo, services to these account holders were disconnected, prompting them to come forward and arrange payment plans. The DA condemned the non-payment, with Kingsol Chabalala citing violations of the Municipal Structures Act. He accused the employees of contributing to the collapse of the municipality. He called on MEC Mamabolo to intervene and ensure that outstanding payments are made to help Emfuleni meet its obligations to Eskom, Rand Water, and other debtors.

(PHOTO: Supplied)