Sandton businesses and residents are boycotting rate hikes. But residents of Alexandra — a Sandton suburb where people are more used to boycotts — told the M&G they thought Sandton residents should pay up
` It is very infair for the government to increase rates by 300%. I think the residents of Sandton are right to complain. But the timing of the boycott is not okay. When FW de Klerk was in power they did not join us. I think they are undermining the ANC government. As for us in Alex, how are they going to monitor the payment by squatters? `
Peter Ratau (29), Eastbank landowner
` They [Sandton residents] must pay, they have a lot of money. Our parents never had money to pay. Our parents should be the ones complaining. You can’t live in such big, luxurious houses and not expect to pay rates. If they don’t pay Sandton will end up like Alexandra one day, there will be no development `
Mary Mogano (22), student
` Sandton has always been getting a lot of services compared to us in Alex. In fact, we are subsidising those guys. We shop there, we work there, we spend most of our money there. Somehow I am sympathetic with individuals but companies must pay … they are making huge profits. The council is making us pay rates but where are the services? My street lights have been off for a whole month. We are prepared to pay for what we see `
Clark Davis (38), Eastbank resident, works for Nestle in Sandton
` We live in leaking houses with dirt laying all over the place. My family can’t live here. Those people in Sandton should stop complaining and pay their rates `
Alfred Ramara, owner of a three-bedroom house in which 10 people are currently living
` They must pay, they never paid the black people who worked for them during apartheid. now they must pay for their rich life’
Benedict Khumalo, unemployed, has lived in Alexandra since 1953
` I don’t earn very much, but I’m prepared to pay my share. The problem is that we don’t get the same services as those in Sandton with clean roads and well-lit streets `
Jackson Mathapo, unemployed, resident of old Alexandra
` People in Alexandra suffer because of the poor living conditions. I don’t have a job, but I still try to pay my rent. Those people in Sandton all work. They can afford to pay their rates `
Norman Fakude (29) Alexandra resident who has been unemployed for five years