Dear Cape Town
- Frederik Herholdt
- Jan 9, 2018
- 2 min read
Image via www.dearcapetown.co.za
Have your say on the drought water tariff.
Cape Town residents are in up rise against the proposal given by The City of Cape Town to add a drought charge to monthly water bills – “Stop COCT”. The City of Cape Town claims to have suffered revenue losses due to water conservation conducted by Cape Town residents in order to save water. Residents are confused because they are doing everything they can to save water, and now COCT is trying to compensate for the income loss due the valiant residents saving water by adding a drought charge. Residents say adding the punitive drought charge to their monthly bills to recover monetary losses is counterproductive and “a slap in the face”.
A resident from Brackenfell, Western Cape has formed an action group to oppose the drought levy. The resident, Sandra Dickson says that civil society does not understand how powerful their voices are and that the public participation process should be used to full extent.
Sandra first started a Facebook page “Stop COCT” and a week later DearCapeTown.co.za was launched. Visitors to the website who wish to challenge the City’s proposal can comment up un till 12 January. The site has reached close to 40 thousand comments. Sandra has commented via social media that the website is experiencing high traffic volumes and that everyone should be patient when going online to comment. These comments will be channelled directly to the COCT participation website.
"The City claims that they aim to raise billions of rands for vital water projects."
COCT plans to gather funds from properties based on property value. The public has commented that this system is unfair and that property value does not have anything to do with how much water may or may have not been used.
COCT has released announcement of the drought charge.
Images via facebook: Sandra Dickson
What concerns the public the most is that COCT hasn't conducted an affordability study. Residents also fear that putting too much money into government for the water projects will only result in corruption or even incompetent management of funds.
COCT has provided opportunity for comment on the drought charge up untill 12 January. Visit www.dearcapetown.co.za
Posted 9 January 2018 - Frederik Herholdt
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