Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) has appointed two debt collection service providers and is urging residents to remain vigilant against fraudsters posing as municipal representatives.

According to MCLM assistant manager for media and public relations Refilwe Mahlangu, the municipality’s credit control division has appointed Cigicell and Ntiyiso to carry out debt collection-related services.

Their responsibilities include delivering final demand notices, conducting inspections and follow-ups, and connecting or disconnecting municipal services.

Mahlangu said only authorised representatives may perform these duties on behalf of MCLM.

She urged residents to protect themselves against fraud by following these guidelines:

• Verify the identity of representatives before allowing them onto your property
• Ensure representatives carry valid identification
• Do not pay any fees directly to representatives
• Representatives are not permitted to accept or solicit payments
• Municipal accounts must not be paid directly to representatives
• Payments should only be made through MCLM’s official payment channels, including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), cashiers at the Mogale Civic Centre, satellite offices, or approved banking apps

“If anyone asks for money while claiming to represent MCLM, do not pay them and report the incident to our customer care centre as soon as possible on 083 787 2814,” Mahlangu concluded.