The change of bank has not affected customer’s ability to pay their municipal accounts as all payments made are redirected to the metro’s mask account.
This is according to Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro, in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
He was reacting to reports by DA shadow MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni, Clr Bruce Reid, who said the tender for the Absa Bank account into which residents paid their municipal accounts ended at the end of June.
Reid also said Nedbank had since been awarded the tender and the new account opened at the beginning of July.
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• The metro’s ‘silent’ change of banks could affect account payments
Gadebe said the metro had been in contract with Nedbank since September 2015, following a tender process that was awarded in the 2015/16 financial year.
“To minimise the inconvenience to over three million Ekurhuleni customers, payments made into ABSA, Standard Bank and First National Bank accounts are received and recorded as these accounts have not been closed.
“To ensure that the metro’s payment level is sustained and prevent customers from being in unduly arrears, no accounts have been cancelled.
“For security reasons, customers are encouraged to visit or contact their rates offices at their nearest customer care centre to receive Nedbank’s account details where payments can be made.”
He said customers who preferred to pay through electronic funds transfer could do so through most banks – Nedbank, ABSA, Standard Bank and FNB branches across Ekurhuleni.
Alternatively, payments can be made through the e-siyakhokha online payment system at www.e-siyakhokha.co.za as well as third party vendors such as Checkers and Pick n Pay.
