MANY residents are at great risk as they find themselves unable to pay their municipal accounts because of the metro changing banks.
The City of Ekurhuleni has a new bank account with Nedbank since July 1, Clr Bruce Reid, DA shadow MMC for finance in Ekurhuleni said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
“The tender for the bank account where residents must pay their municipal account ended at the end of June. The Absa bank account where residents have been paying into is longer active. Nedbank has been awarded the tender and the new account opened with them from the beginning of July,” Reid said.
“In typical ANC fashion, no information regarding this change was communicated to residents. This situation is totally unacceptable. Residents have received termination notices owing to non-payment only to find out their payments have not reflected due to the change of banks,” he added.
It would appear that this might be the reason why the online platform, e-Siyakhokha, is presently suspended, he said.
“The MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni, Clr Doctor Xhakaza, is not answering his phone or returning my calls and my attempts at contacting the City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, have also failed,” Reid added.
The DA urged the metro to urgently and officially communicate to residents where they must pay their accounts to avoid having their electricity cut off.
Express is waiting for official comment from the metro.
