Durban - A Durban pensioner says he may be “forced” to sell his home due to the massive rates bill he received from the eThekwini Municipality.
Raj Sukedeo, 86, from the Newlands area, says his only option was to sell his home in order to pay the municipality the thousands of rand in rates he was billed for.
He told The Mercury that the municipality was demanding close to R180 000 in rates that were in arrears, and he had already paid about R39 000 this year. Sukedeo said his troubles began when the municipality changed the classification of his home from residential to business.
He said some years ago, his son used to do repair work on cars on the property. The council got to know of this, and the property rates was changed from residential to business usage, leading to much higher charges.
He said the business no longer operated at the property, but the rates were still being charged at a commercial rate.
“This year, I received a R39 000 bill, and my lights were cut, and I had to pay that amount. For this month (November), I received another R107 000 bill. I have not been able to pay the rates bill,” he said.
“I am looking to sell my home. I do not have another house I can move into. I will have to look into moving into a home (for the elderly). I live with my sister, who is 76 years old, and wherever I go, she goes too.”
He said that to date, he had not been able to pay the bill.
“I will be going to the city’s town-planning offices to try to solve this,” he said, adding that it was difficult for him to move around because he was elderly, had suffered a stroke, and had had a hip replacement.
A neighbour close to him detailed the plight he was facing,
“On his current grant of R2 000, he cannot afford the monthly rates bill. Promises that his rates and accounts will be adjusted have been futile for two years now.
“His lights are disconnected, and now his only way of surviving is selling the house. He got a buyer, but the sale can’t go through because of the outstanding and increasing monthly fees.”
EThekwini Municipality was provided with his details and the allegations he raised. However, spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said: “The city does not discuss matters pertaining to a customer’s account with a third party.”
He added that the municipality had a debt-relief programme through which customers could make arrangements to pay off their outstanding debt in terms of the municipality’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy.
“This can be done by visiting their nearest Sizakala Centre for further information,” he said.