Pellsrus middle incomers feel crunch

Bryan Dhludhlu >>> Jeffreys Bay Online <<<

Homeowners in Pellsrus, the suburb that is divided into low cost and middle class incomers is facing a repeat of electrical cut-offs as a result of high numbers of property owners defaulting on municipal bills.

Kouga municipality cut off electricity affecting an estimated 60 properties at the beginning of October 2015 last year. Come the second week of Jan 2016 over 30 defaulters were cut off.

Although all properties mentioned are on the prepaid method.the interlinked system allows KM to block further prepaid purchases as a means to force the tenants/owners to pay/settle their rates.

When interviewing the homeowners in arears all residents moaned of the high fixed rates and taxes billed at an average of R1000 per month before prepaid power purchases.

The said houses are excluded from the benefit scheme of a solar geyser, 12kl free water allowance and any other subsidy enjoyed by the 100% indingent houses across the road in the same suburb.

To bring all of this into perspective the middle income section comprises of roughly 160 properties,less 30 vacant stands leaves 130 houses.

With roughly 40 of these being holiday homes leaves an average 90 constant houses that are occupied throughout the year. With almost 60 defaulters (66% Oct 15) cut-off there is an urgent need to revise the imbalances occuring in a single community.