SECURITY concerns have compelled Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to temporarily deactivate the online municipal accounts service DocView.
The discovered that as convenient as the service was to its ratepayers, it violated online security acts such as the Protection of Personal Information Act. Thus, it had to be shut down.
The service was introduced in an effort to address the frustration endured by residents due to various incidents that impeded on delivery of monthly municipal account statements. With DocView residents’ monthly accounts were made available in PDF format to be printed, viewed or e-mailed.
According to Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, the municipality is pursuing security compliance in this regard to ensure that the service and convenience to its customers is reinstated as soon as possible.
Gadebe said its online platform, e-Siyakhokha, is still available on https://www.e-siyakhokha.co.za and can be used by customers who wish to pay their account online.
“The municipality wishes to encourage ratepayers to utilise this platform which has been introduced for their convenience,” says Gadebe. He adds that enhancements have been made to the e-Siyakhokha online system and this system allows residents to not only view, pay and download their monthly statements but also predate payments.
This platform gives notification of payment, keeps records of your accounts and payments from the time you register to use this system and permits you to query your account while online.
