Report illegal connections

FOLLOWING a report on a Caxton newspaper's website regarding customers who were in arrears with payment of bills, the municipality has responded to an enquiry by Berea Mail as to whether this applies to eThekwini.

According to the site, from 2 February all municipal customers in arrears on their water, rates and taxes account with pre-paid meters would be denied access in buying pre-paid electricity, their pre-paid meters would be blocked and they would not be able to buy any electricity until the outstanding amount was paid in full, or a 50 per cent deposit of the arrears amount was paid with an acknowledgement of debt signed for the balance to be paid on negotiated terms.

All consumers who have bridged, illegally connected to the municipal network or tampered with their water and electricity meters were urged to come forward to the municipality within three months, and would not be penalised.

eThekwini Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said eThekwini Municipality does not follow the same pre-paid meter programme as other municipalities.

“If a customer applies for a prepaid meter and he or she owes the municipality, eThekwini puts that customer on an 80/20 principle. This means that the consumer gets 80 per cent of purchases and 20 per cent is allocated to outstanding debts. eThekwini has a zero-tolerance stance against illegal connections, and there is currently no programme in place to pardon those that are in transgression,” she said.

Mthethwa said the municipality urges residents to continue reporting illegal water connections, vandalism or theft of municipal infrastructure to the number 080 131 3013.