Thabo Mofutsanyane district municipality is suing Eastern Free State farmers for up to R300 000 for allegedly not paying their Regional Services Council (RSC) bills. The RSCs were terminated in June 2006, when the last levies were payable.
Chairperson of Agriculture (FSA’s) Committee for Local Government, Borrie Erasmus, said nobody knows what’s going on. It’s possible some farmers are still in arrears, but it’s difficult to explain the extraordinarily large accounts. “Reports from the farmers indicate the majority of the accounts were paid in full by June 2006, but municipal officials don’t know where the money is. It also seems as if the accounts were drawn up willy-nilly.” FSA advised its members to find receipts for all payments and get legal advice. “We recommend the farmers act as a united front and get legal advice collectively,” said Erasmus. “And they must take note that the RSC levies don’t include property or agricultural tax”. The district municipality includes the towns of Bethlehem, Clocolan, Memel and Harrismith. – Annelie Coleman
