-Elderly Bangladesh Heights residents face legal action over a R7 million municipal debt.
-The DA is calling for fair repayment terms, indigent relief, and application of the in duplum rule.
-The City must explain whether debt enforcement is being applied consistently and fairly.
The threat of legal action against the body corporate of Bangladesh Heights in Laudium raises serious questions about whether the City of Tshwane is treating elderly and vulnerable residents fairly, particularly after the chairperson allegedly received a warning from the Deputy Mayor not to speak ill of the ANC government.
Bangladesh Heights is home to many elderly residents and SASSA grant recipients who are trying to take responsibility for their outstanding municipal account.
The body corporate has made frequent payments and installed individual meters to improve revenue collection. Yet the outstanding debt remains at approximately R7 million, and mounting interest is preventing residents from making meaningful progress.
The DA has repeatedly called on the City to implement the common-law in duplum rule, which limits interest on a debt to the outstanding capital amount while the debt remains in arrears. The City’s continued failure to address this matter is placing an additional burden on residents who are already struggling to make ends meet.
These residents are also missing out on indigent benefits they should be able to access because sectional-title properties are often excluded from the full benefits of the City’s indigent support system due to bulk municipal accounts. The DA brought a motion to Council calling for a policy change to ensure qualifying SASSA recipients receive the full benefits of the indigent basket. The governing coalition did not allow the motion to pass.
Now, Bangladesh Heights has received a letter from a lawyer demanding payment and threatening further legal action against the body corporate. The letter reportedly arrived days after the chairperson publicly criticised the ANC government and was allegedly warned by the Deputy Mayor against speaking negatively about the party. The timing demands an explanation.
For months, residents have also faced threats of water restrictions and electricity disconnections. Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor’s own company, Mzanzi Resorts, reportedly owes the City millions of rand without facing comparable restrictions. The City must explain whether it applies municipal debt enforcement consistently and fairly.
The DA demands that the City withdraw this summons, provide Bangladesh Heights with a fair repayment arrangement, and urgently assess and deduct all indigent benefits for which qualifying residents are eligible. The City must also address the mounting interest and implement the in duplum rule.
If we are elected to govern Tshwane, in line with our 2026 Local Government Manifesto, we will ensure the City fixes broken billing systems, enforces credit control firmly and consistently, and ensures indigent support reaches qualifying households. We will conduct an immediate audit of billing systems so that residents are billed correctly and qualifying vulnerable households receive the support to which they are entitled.
By fixing broken billing systems, ensuring indigent support reaches qualifying households, and restoring the City’s financial stability, we can improve service delivery and create the reliable environment businesses need to invest, grow and create jobs.
A DA-led Tshwane will put residents first, restore fairness and financial discipline, and build a City that delivers reliable services, supports investment and creates jobs.