Gayton McKenzie promises residents 3-month break from paying municipal rates
He also promised to write off municipal debt, saying residents would start with a clean slate.
As South Africans prepare for the local government elections on November 4, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader, Gayton McKenzie, has pledged to provide a three-month break from municipal rates payments for residents. Speaking at the party's manifesto launch in Bloemfontein, Free State, McKenzie emphasized that even if the PA does not win any municipalities, the party remains committed to improving the lives of its supporters.
He stated that the party's manifesto focuses on enhancing residents' lives, even with a modest number of councillors in power. McKenzie promised that if the PA wins, residents will not have to pay their municipal rates for three months, allowing them to catch up on bills and alleviate financial burdens. He also highlighted that many individuals use their pensions to pay for essential services, which leaves them struggling to afford basic necessities like food.
McKenzie assured that should the party come into power, they will write off all municipal debt, giving everyone a fresh start. Additionally, McKenzie addressed concerns about the party's non-racial nature, emphasizing that the PA is the most non-racial political party in the country, with 5,000 councillors, 3,000 of whom are African.
He also defended the party's spending on the 2026 Fifa World Cup, emphasizing that the money was allocated to fans who had never had the opportunity to travel internationally, and that the benefits of this investment will soon become apparent.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
