Six people suspected of illegally connecting to the City of Johannesburg‘s municipal services were arrested on 8 January and found to owe the City over R3 million.
They were apprehended during a blitz operation led by various officials, including Executive Mayor Herman
Mashaba, the MMC for Finance Dr Rabelani Dagada, the police and the anti-corruption unit.
Mashaba said citywide over 2 000 businesses failed to pay their electricity bills, amounting to just under R1 billion. Some of these account holders also connect to municipal services illegally, he said.
“Ensuring that City services are paid for is integral to… delivering quality and consistent services, especially to the poorest and most vulnerable of our residents.”
Mashaba said those who connect to services illegally do not only rob the City, but they also place huge pressure on those residents who do pay for their municipal services.
During the operation, 18 people who had no documents were detained. Mashaba said the Department of Home Affairs will process them.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to bring the rule of law back into the city. As a City, we will continue to run these operations to ensure that offenders face the full might of the law.”
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