Every Community Member in Mossel Bay must read and Share this letter of 5 March 2026.

An Open Letter to Our Community - 5 March 2026.pdf

https://eden-movement.co.za/grfirst/index.php?topic=13.0

Read Point 2 Olga Rademan Case:

The Core Principle: Analysis of Paragraphs [42] and [43]

Despite the outcome for Ms. Rademan, the most enduring legacy of the judgment lies in the
principles articulated by Justice Zondo in paragraphs [42] and [43]. These sections of the
judgment address the core issue of a resident's obligation when a municipality demands
payment for services not rendered.

Paragraph [42]: The Right to Withhold Payment

In this paragraph, the Court makes a clear and unequivocal statement:
"where a municipality claims payment from a resident or ratepayer for services, it is only
entitled to payment for services that it has rendered. By the same token, where a municipality
claims from a resident, customer or ratepayer payment for services, the resident, customer or
ratepayer is only obliged to pay the municipality for services that have been rendered. There
is no obligation on a resident, customer or ratepayer to pay the municipality for a service that
has not been rendered." 1
This principle establishes a powerful right for citizens. It confirms that the basis of payment
is a transactional one: payment is due for services received. The Court provided a practical
example: if a municipality bills a resident for electricity that was never supplied, the resident
is entitled to deduct that specific amount from their total bill.

Paragraph [43]: The Legal Framework for Disputes

Paragraph [43] reinforces this principle by grounding it in the municipality's own legal
framework. It highlights that municipal by-laws, which mandate the collection of all money
"due and payable," implicitly support the idea that no money is "due and payable" for a
service not rendered. The Court further clarified the process for resolving disputes:
"If a dispute arises between the resident or ratepayer or customer, on the one hand, and the
Municipality, on the other, about whether or not electricity was supplied... either party may
institute legal proceedings to have a court adjudicate that dispute." 1

This provides a clear pathway for communities to challenge municipal charges, moving such
disputes from the realm of protest to the formal legal arena.

THE 15-YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE DEBT: An ANALYSIS OF KNYSNA'S WATER & CIVIL ENGINEERING COLLAPSE
Issued: 17 April 2026 | Garden Route, South Africa Document ID: GRF-KNY-COMP-2026

Executive Summary: A Systemic Collapse 15 Years in the Making Knysna's water and civil infrastructure failure is not the result of a single administration, a single budget cycle, or a single political party. It is the predictable outcome of a minimum of 15 years of cumulative under-investment, non-compliance with national legislation, and the erosion of technical capacity across multiple political eras.

KNYSNA Infrastructure position paper 17 April 2026.pdf

Link To Article Date 1 April 2026

GEORGE (Our) municipality admits they are overcharging us, yet they want to lock in massive increases until 2030. We are being squeezed by a "Fixed Charge Trap" that hurts us all with impact on low-income families.

GEORGE RESIDENTS- SAY NO ELECTRICITY HIKES.pdf

Dr Dennis Farrell of Garden Route First says the municipality's proposed cost of supply (CoS) phase-in strategy, announced last week, will result in ratepayers facing an effective increase of between 17% and 22% in the 2026/27 book year. Link to Article

PUBLIC STATEMENT – 25 March 2026 - By Dr D Farrel
George's Water Crisis Is Being Ignored — And Residents Deserve Answers Now

PUBLIC STATEMENT_ George s Water Crisis Is Being Ignored _And Residents Deserve Answers Now 25 March 2026.pdf

Letter form Oudtshoorn Municipality 13 April 2026

FOR ATTENTION - DR DV FARRELL 13 April 2026.pdf

Response to Municipality letter Dated 13 April 2026.pdf

Response by DR Dennis Farrel Dated 14 April 2026

PUBLIC STATEMENT & MEDIA BRIEFING

Oudtshoorn Water Crisis: Residents Welcome Municipal Engagement but Demand Clear
Timelines and Action
14 April 2026 - By DR Dennis Farrel

Media statement 14 April 2026.pdf