Your Rates, Your Voice

Phase 1 : The Foundation

Timeframe (0–3 Months)

Objective: Establish MossRates as the credible, neutral voice for Mossel Bay ratepayers.
Key Actions:

  • Launch MossRates.co.za with simple sign-up form for residents, HOAs, and businesses.

  • Adopt Neutral Constitution to prevent political or HOA capture.

  • Run First Membership Drive targeting HOAs, RPAs, and residents.

  • Kick-off “Rate Freeze Mossel Bay” Petition to unite members around immediate priorities.

Step 2: Strengthen Local Presence

Timeframe (3–6 Months)

Objective: Grow influence and visibility within Mossel Bay.
Key Actions:

  • Establish Affiliate Council to include HOAs, RPAs, and business groups.

  • Hold First Public Town Hall with media coverage to present unified concerns.

  • Launch Bi-Monthly Newsletter – MossRates Report to keep members informed.

  • Deliver petition signatures to the municipality to demonstrate unified demand.

Step 3: Oversight & Accountability

Timeframe (6–12 Months)

Objective: Provide data-backed monitoring of municipal performance.
Key Actions:

  • Fully activate Expert Departments: Finance, Legal, Infrastructure, Safety, and Communications.

  • Publish Municipal Scorecard: transparent audit of services and billing.

  • File PAIA Requests to obtain cost breakdowns and expose unfair practices.

  • Launch Service Watchdog Dashboard to track potholes, outages, and billing complaints.

  • Hold First Election for Executive Committee to ensure democratic governance.

Step 4: Parallel Solutions & Community Resilience

Timeframe (Year 2)

Objective: Reduce dependency on municipality while building community strength.
Key Actions:

  • Pilot Alternative Service Models: refuse removal, boreholes, solar microgrids.

  • Establish Community Safety Network integrating neighbourhood watches and estates.

  • Publish First Independent Audit for transparency and credibility.

  • Continue expanding campaigns while maintaining Mossel Bay as priority focus.

Step 5: Regional Influence & Long-Term Resilience

Timeframe (Year 3+)

Objective: Amplify MossRates’ voice and influence at regional level.
Key Actions:

  • Join Garden Route / EdenRates Alliance for broader leverage while retaining MossRates’ local seat.

  • Engage Provincial Government & Treasury with credible research to influence policy.

  • Launch Long-Term Resilience Projects: bulk service models, sponsored infrastructure, community safety initiatives.

  • Maintain ongoing transparency, audits, and member engagement to sustain credibility and power.

MossRates evolves from a local watchdog into a professional, united, and credible movement representing thousands of Mossel Bay ratepayers, with measurable impact on rates, transparency, and municipal accountability.