18 Jun 2018

The South East District Council is losing millions due to unpaid commercial property rates owing to delayed finalisation of regulations of the exercise.

The council’s desire to expand its revenue base has for some time being halted by the unavailability of regulations.

During the recent sitting, councillors demanded that the council secretariat should explain why the council had not been able to accrue revenues which would boost its revenue base.

The areas that the council is eyeing are commercial properties in the Kgale area which include among Game City Mall, Commerce Park as well as some business properties in Tlokweng.

Outgoing council secretary, Mr Lebuile Israel told the council sitting recently that they could be making P50 million from collecting rates.He said the regulations were still with the Attorney General Chambers but would eventually be released to guide the council.

Mr Israel said should the council be allowed to start collecting rates, it would be a significant boost to its revenue coffers. The council’s chairperson of the finance committee and specially elected councillor, Ms Gloria Batlang had complained that the issue had been lingering on for long.

She stated that the issue could be the answer to the councils desire to generate more funds.

She criticised the council chairperson, Mr Phenyo Segokgo saying he was not giving it the attention it deserved.

On other issues, Mr Israel told the council that the envisaged development of the Ramotswa Central Business District (CBD) through public private partnership model was ongoing. ends