Ratepayers organisation for the people, by the people to keep politics out of local government
The Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA):
A Decade of Independent Representation
Established in 2011, the Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA) emerged as a registered national political party with a distinctive mission: to shield local councillors from political party interference, thereby fostering direct accountability to the communities they serve.
Rooted in the principles of direct democracy, IRASA champions a model of governance where councillors are employees of the voters, funded by their rates and taxes, and committed to service delivery above partisan politics. This approach is enshrined in commitments made by their candidates, who pledge to engage in regular public consultation and vote in the best interests of their constituents.
Since its inception, IRASA has actively participated in South Africa’s municipal elections, notably in 2016 and 2021. The party has successfully gained representation in various municipalities,
demonstrating the growing appeal of independent, community focused governance.
In a political landscape increasingly characterized by hung councils and coalition governments, IRASA’s presence has contributed to a shift away from dominant party politics.
Through its consistent focus on service delivery and councillor accountability, IRASA has carved out a significant niche, proving that a community-centric approach can achieve electoral success and challenge the established political order in South African local government.
The Key Benefits for Ratepayers
This partnership between MossRates, Mossel Bay Property Owners Association (MPOA), IRASA, and the Nation Taxpayers Union (NTU) delivers several direct and powerful benefits to the ratepayers and homeowners of Mossel Bay.
In essence, it shifts power from political parties to the community itself, ensuring better governance and service delivery.
Here is a summary of the key advantages:
Genuine Community Representation in Council
Instead of councillors who are loyal to a political party, this partnership ensures that elected representatives are chosen by the community, for the community. Councillors are selected based on their skills and commitment to local issues, meaning your voice is genuinely represented in the municipal council.
Politically Independent Councillors
By using IRASA as a platform, councillors are shielded from the influence and pressure of mainstream political parties.
This independence allows them to focus exclusively on the needs of the ratepayers who elected them, leading to more honest and accountable decision making.
Legal Power to Demand Service Delivery
Through the NTU, ratepayers gain access to a legally-tested system to hold the municipality accountable.
If the municipality fails to provide the services you pay for, you can:
Legally Dispute Your Rates:
Force the municipality to credit your account for services not rendered.
Take Direct Action:
If the municipality still fails to act, the community can hire its own contractors to perform the work (e.g., fix potholes) and legally charge the cost back to the municipality.
A Direct Say in How Your Money is Spent
Ultimately, this partnership gives you a powerful and structured way to influence how your rates are used. It provides a clear channel to ensure that your money is spent on the services and infrastructure that your community needs, leading to a better-managed and more prosperous Mossel Bay for everyone.
A Partnership for a Stronger Community:
Empowering Ratepayers in Mossel Bay
A powerful new partnership between four organizations dedicated will ensure that the interests of ratepayers and homeowners in Mossel Bay are effectively represented in the Municipal Council.
This collaboration between MossRates, the Mossel Bay Property Owners Association (MPOA), the Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA), and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) creates a new model for local governance that is more accountable, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the community.
In simple terms, this partnership provides a way for ordinary citizens to have a real voice in how their town is run, ensuring that their rates are used to deliver the services they expect and deserve.
The Partners: Who They Are and What They Do
This partnership brings together four distinct organizations, each with a unique and vital role to play:
The Local Representatives:
The MPOA and Mossrates are the grassroots voice of the community, representing the interests of local ratepayers and property owners.
They are responsible for identifying the need for and recruiting qualified, community-minded individuals to serve as councillors.
Mossrates
Mossel Bay Property Owners Association (MPOA)
IRASA
The Political Shield
As a registered national political party, IRASA provides a platform for independent councillors to stand for election.
This shields them from the influence and pressures of traditional political parties, allowing them to remain focused on serving the community that elected them.
The National Taxpayers Union
The Legal Powerhouse
The NTU provides the legal framework and expertise to hold the municipality accountable.
They have a proven system for disputing municipal rates and service charges when the municipality fails to deliver, giving the community a powerful tool to enforce their rights.
What the Partnership Achieves: A New Way Forward
This partnership creates a clear and achievable path for ratepayers to take back control of their local government. Here’s how it works in practice:
Finding and Electing True Community Representatives
For too long, municipal councils have been dominated by political parties, with councillors often more accountable to their party bosses than to the people who elected them.
This partnership changes that.
MossRates and MPOA will advertise 5-year councillor posts to the community, seeking out the most suitable and qualified candidates to represent the ratepayers.
This means that councillors will be chosen based on their skills, experience, and commitment to the community, not their political connections.
Ensuring Independent and Accountable Representation
Once elected, councillors need to be able to represent the interests of the community without fear of political interference. This is where IRASA comes in.
By standing for election under the IRASA banner, councillors are protected from the pressures and demands of traditional political parties.
This ensures that their loyalty remains with the ratepayers and homeowners who elected them, and that they can focus on delivering the results the community wants to see.
MossRates and MPOA will advertise 5-year councillor posts to the community, seeking out the most suitable and qualified candidates to represent the ratepayers.
This means that councillors will be chosen based on their skills, experience, and commitment to the community, not their political connections.
Holding the Municipality to Account with Legal Muscle
When the municipality fails to deliver the services that ratepayers are paying for, it can be difficult to know what to do. The NTU provides a powerful solution.
The NTU has a legally-tested system for disputing municipal rates when services are not delivered. This is based on the fact that many municipalities have illegally levied taxes by failing to follow the correct legal procedures.
When a dispute is declared, the municipality is legally required to credit the ratepayer’s account. If the municipality still fails to provide the service, the TPA (Tax Payers Association, the local arm of the NTU) can arrange for the work to be done and claim the cost back from the municipality.
This creates a powerful incentive for the municipality to deliver the services that ratepayers are paying for, and provides a practical way for the community to take action when they don’t.
The Big Picture:
A New Model for Local Governance
This partnership is about more than just fixing potholes or getting the streetlights working.
It’s about creating a new model for local governance that is more democratic, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the community.
By working together, MossRates, MPOA, IRASA, and the NTU are empowering ratepayers to take back control of their local government and build a stronger, more prosperous community for all.
