Latest news with #WRA
Business News Wales
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
New Leadership to Drive Digital Standards Across Welsh Public Services
The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) has appointed two influential leaders to accelerate the adoption of high-quality digital standards across Wales' public sector. Jemima Monteith-Thomas has been named the new Head of Standards and Product at CDPS, and Rebecca Godfrey, Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA), has been appointed as Chair of the Digital and Data Standards Board for Wales. These appointments come at a critical time as Wales continues to embed the Digital Service Standard for Wales — 12 principles that define what good, user-centred digital public services should look like. The Standard underpins the Welsh Government's wider Digital Strategy for Wales, aimed at building services that are simple, secure, and designed around user needs. 'Using digital service standards makes designing and delivering great public services in Wales easier,' said Jemima Monteith-Thomas, Head of Standards and Product at CDPS. 'I'm looking forward to driving awareness and adoption of the Digital Service Standard and other endorsed standards. I'm particularly excited to be working alongside Rebecca, whose experience at the WRA will bring valuable insight.' The Digital and Data Standards Board, convened by CDPS and mandated by Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans, plays a pivotal role in championing digital standards and facilitating their use across sectors. The board brings together voices from across public services in Wales to promote alignment, share best practices, and adapt other existing standards to the Welsh context. Rebecca Godfrey takes over the role of Chair from former WRA CEO Dyfed Alsop, continuing the board's work to embed consistent and high-impact standards across the digital ecosystem in Wales. 'I'm excited to shape the future of digital public services in Wales through this board,' said Rebecca. 'The standards we promote are already helping services become easier for citizens to use and more efficient to deliver. At the WRA, we've put customers at the centre of service design – helping people get things right the first time. I'm looking forward to sharing that experience and learning from others.'
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Westville Ratepayers Association vows to continue oversight after court ruling
Asad Gaffar, the chairperson of the EThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) and Westville Ratepayers Association said they will continue to hold the city accountable and advocate for the responsible management. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers The Westville Ratepayers Association (WRA) say they will continue to push for oversight in the eThekwini Municipality despite the Durban High Court dismissing their application to declare he rates charged for the financial years from 2005 to 2008 unlawful and not due to the municipality. According to the municipality the application was occasioned by an investigation report commissioned by the WRA which found that the municipality did not comply with all relevant legislation which required it to publish the rates promulgation in the Provincial Gazette. The municipality stated that they disputed this and contended that it had complied with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and published the promulgation in the Gazette. According to the municipality, the Judge who presided over the case on Tuesday stated that this assertion was not disputed by the applicant. 'Furthermore, the Judge said that leaving aside that the application was based on a meritless investigation report, I disagree with the applicant that the municipality was obliged to comply with all relevant legislation in promulgating rates,' the municipality stated. Reacting to the judgement, eThekwini Municipality Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba, said the municipality welcomed the judgement as it demonstrates the city's commitment to conduct its business within the framework of the law. 'Residents must rest assured of our commitment to run a clean, accountable and transparent administration,' said Xaba. Xaba added that he strongly believed in the constructive resolution of disputes and that if residents are not satisfied with the manner in which the municipality runs its affairs, his door remains open for engagements. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Asad Gaffar, the chairperson of the WRA and the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) said they were disappointed but undeterred by the recent dismissal of its main application regarding the rates promulgation matter. Explaining further, Gaffar said that although the WRA's application to strike out certain contentious portions of the City's answering affidavit was however successful, it ultimately did not sway the result in the main application. 'Despite the outcome in the main application, we remain committed to championing good governance, ethical leadership, and curbing fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The municipality's infrastructure continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate, with water loss reaching a staggering 58%.' Gaffar went on to state that the 2025/2026 budget is unrealistic, unachievable, and unaffordable. Gaffar said that public participation was inadequate, rendering the process a mere formality. 'We welcome the mayor's open door policy and agenda for renewal, but actions speak louder than words. Ratepayers deserve transparency, accountability, and effective governance. We will continue to hold the city accountable and advocate for the responsible management of our resources,' Gaffar stated. Gaffar further stated that the absence of a cost order against the association acknowledges the public interest in this matter. 'The outcome is neither a win for the city nor is it a loss for the Westville Ratepayers Association. Together, we can demand better governance and ensure our city's resources are used effectively,' Gaffar said.
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Westville Ratepayers Association remains resolute after court ruling on rates dispute
The Westville Ratepayers Association (WRA) said they were "undeterred" by the Durban High Court's decision to dismiss their application to challenge rates charged by the eThekwini Municipality, but were disappointed with the ruling. Yesterday, the court dismissed the association's application to challenge rates charged from 2005 to 2008. The association claimed the municipality did not comply with all the relevant legislation, especially a piece of legislation that required the city to publish the rates promulgation in the provincial gazette. They further claimed the rates were therefore unlawful. The municipality disputed this and said it had complied with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and published the promulgation in the gazette.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Court ruling: Westville Ratepayers Association loses rates case against eThekwini Municipality
The Durban High Court has dismissed the Westville Ratepayers Association's (WRA) application to challenge rates charged from 2005 to 2008, affirming the eThekwini Municipality's compliance with legal requirements The application was brought against the city by the WRA. The association claimed that the municipality did not comply with all relevant legislations, more especially a legislation that required the city to publish the rates promulgation in the provincial gazette. The municipality disputed this and said it had complied with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and published the promulgation in the gazette. Reacting to the judgment today, eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, said the municipality welcomed the judgment as it demonstrated the city's commitment to conduct its business within the framework of the law. 'Residents must rest assured of our commitment to run a clean, accountable and transparent administration. I strongly believe in the constructive resolution of disputes and that if residents are not satisfied with the manner in which the municipality runs its affairs, my door remains open for engagements,' said Xaba. The WRA was not available for comment at the time of publication. THE POST
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
eThekwini wins court victory over Westville ratepayers' association
The Durban high court has rejected the Westville Ratepayers' Association's (WRA) application challenging the lawfulness of the rates charged by eThekwini municipality two decades ago. The ratepayer group had taken the city to court seeking to recover the rates they paid between 2005 and 2008, claiming that the payments they made in that period was not lawful due to the municipality's failure to properly promulgate rates. They backed this claim by an investigation report that WRA had commissioned which found that the municipality had not published the rates promulgation in the Provincial Gazette, thereby not complying with all relevant legislation. However, the municipality challenged this and maintained that it had complied with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and published the promulgation in the Gazette. Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the presiding judge confirmed that the WRA did not dispute the assertion made by the city. 'Furthermore, the judge said that 'leaving aside that the application was based on a meritless investigation report, I disagree with the applicant that the municipality was obliged to comply with all relevant legislation in promulgating rates,'' she said.
