GCC cracks down on rate defaulters
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday October 6, 2025 06:00
According to GCC Town Clerk, Daniel Katjinotjiwa, the council resorted to the courts after it became clear that some individuals and companies had no intention of settling their debts. “As a result, 12 people have been served with court papers and given 14 days to make payment,” Katjinotjiwa confirmed in an interview on Thursday.
This legal route, he noted, is aimed at holding defaulters accountable while also sending a strong message to others with outstanding balances.
Some of the companies include Semolemo (PTY) LTD, which is alleged to owe the sum of P 2, 422 080.00, which, according to court papers, is due and payable. “In breach of the defendant’s legal obligation to pay rates, as prescribed under the Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations (2019) and the Local Government Act (2012), the defendant to pay the sum of P2, 422, 080 which is due and owing to the plaintiff by virtue of duly levied property rates,” the court papers states which are filed before Lobatse High Court Judge Reuben Lekorwe.
Furthermore, the court papers reveal that despite due demand, the defendant (Semolemo (PTY) LTD has, without any lawful excuse, neglected, failed, and/ or refused to pay the sum of P2, 422, 080 or any portion thereof.
However, the defendants have responded to the council papers denying the amount claimed by the plaintiff (council) derived from property rates levied pursuant to the Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations 2019. “The amount claimed by the council is an accumulation of amounts levied since 2014, which is before the 2019 Regulations were promulgated. It is not suggested, averred, and or pleaded that the 2019 Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations operated with retrospective effect,” the court papers read in part.
However, they want the court to dismiss the council's claim with costs. Another company taken to court is Mogobe Incorporated (PTY) LTD, which is also alleged to be owing the council the amount of P101, 116.85 of property rates, which is also due and payable.
According to council court papers, despite due demand the defendant has, without any lawful excuse, neglected, failed, and/ or refused to pay the sum of P101, 116.85 or any portion thereof.
The defendant (Mogobe Incorporated (PTY) Limited denied that the amount claimed by the council derives from property rates levied pursuant to the Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations 2019 in that: the amount claimed is an accumulation of amounts levied since 2015, which is before the 2019 Regulations were promulgated. “It is not suggested, averred, and or pleaded that the 2019 Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations operated retrospectively.'
Meanwhile, Council is yet to serve Benedict Mabeo for property rates as he is alleged to be owing it the sum of P2, 119, 983.18 as prescribed under the Local Government (Valuation and Rating) Regulations (2019) and the Local Government Act (2012), and the defendant has failed to pay the same amount.
Mabeo’s name and 19 other people were published in the local newspapers by the council as they were advised to come and pay rates.