The Town Mayor of Wau Municipal Council, Joseph John Andrea, has announced the suspension of house rates collection across Wau Municipality until further notice, citing the need to ease the economic burden on residents.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the mayor confirming the suspension of Provisional Local Order No. 2/2026, which had mandated the collection of local house rate fees.
He said an official communication will be issued to formally notify residents of the municipality about the suspension.
Mayor Andrea also issued a strong warning against any individuals or authorities attempting to collect house rates during the suspension period, stressing that such actions would be illegal.
The suspended order, issued earlier on January 13, 2026, had outlined house rate fees based on residential classification.
Under the order, residents in first-class residential areas were required to pay 35,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), 25,000 SSP for second-class areas, and 15,000 SSP for third-class areas.
In a further move aimed at reducing financial pressure on citizens, the mayor also announced the suspension of the school fee order, acknowledging the growing economic challenges faced by families in the municipality.
Despite the suspension, Mayor Andrea warned that strict measures remain in place against violations of the provisional local order. Any landlord found contravening the regulations risks a fine of 50,000 SSP, two weeks’ imprisonment, or both penalties.
The decision to suspend the house rates and school fee orders reflects the Wau Municipal Council’s responsiveness to public concerns and its commitment to protecting residents from undue financial strain during difficult economic times.
