Oudtshoorn, 20 October 2021 – The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipal Council wrote off all municipal rates debt of all churches, residential house of churches and registered non-profit organisations (NPO), including debt collection the was referred to attorneys, as of 30 September 2021.
“The COVID19 pandemic has severely negatively affected all parts of the society, including churches and non-profit organisations,” said Vlancio Donson, executive mayor of the Greater Oudtshoorn. “We are heeding the plea and calls from the churches and NPO’s that their sources of support have dried up, as the congregants and donors could not support their organisations as before the descent of COVID19.”
This decision to write off the debt amounting to just over R 2.1 Million was taken at a special council meeting that took place on 7 October 2021. Council additionally decided that prepaid water and electricity meters be installed at no cost to the premises of all churches, residential houses of churches and registered non-profit organisations which benefited from the write–off of all debt.
“If churches, residential houses of churches and registered non-profit organisations default again on their municipal accounts, they will be placed on auxiliary, whereby a percentage of up to 50% of the prepaid electricity purchases be allocated to such arrear account,” the deputy executive mayor, Gevan Juthe added.