Makana spokesman Mncedisi Boma confirmed that local businesses owe the municipality R29 million but said the details of the defaulters and what arrangements have been made for the debt to be paid off were confidential.
Makana spokesman Mncedisi Boma confirmed that local businesses owe the municipality R29 million but said the details of the defaulters and what arrangements have been made for the debt to be paid off were confidential.
This week Grocott's Mail followed up on a rumour that Grahamstown businesses owe Makana Municipality a considerable amount in rates.
Municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma told Grocott's Mail that while residents owed a lot in rates, the situation with the business community was worse.
"There are a number of businesses who owe this institution – and also government departments," Boma said.
"We cannot of course discuss the debt between the institution and that particular person with the public. It is a confidential matter."
He said while Makana had managed to get payment from some government departments, it was a different story with businesses.
"We are worried that we are owed so much money by the business community. We are going to use the same strategy we used when we were owed by the government departments," said Boma.
He said their approach to recovering the debt was 'holistic'.
"We strongly believe that the strategy will work for us."
