City ropes in JMPD to find municipal bill defaulters
The bold move has good intentions but ward councillors worry about practical implications.
Efforts to collect outstanding municipal payments are being intensified as the city plans to involve JMPD officers in collecting monies owed by property owners.
The move was announced by city manager Floyd Brink. “We will accelerate our zero-tolerance initiative against residents who run away from paying their bills.”
The ambitious project will see JMPD officers in the coming weeks set up strategic roadblocks where not only will the vehicle and driver be checked for traffic violations, but their municipal accounts will be interrogated too.
“Present yourself to the city if you have an outstanding bill or risk being stopped at a roadblock and be made to settle your municipal bill.”
The credit-control roadblock initiative will be led by a task team comprising JMPD, revenue, City Power, Joburg Water, and other units to ensure defaulters of municipal services are nabbed.
The city’s group chief financial officer, Tebogo Moraka, says the city’s current debtor’s book is sitting at close to R47b, for rates and taxes, sewer, electricity, and water, which is unsustainable.
“We have no choice but to switch off our services to those not coming forward to pay their arrear debt,” added Brink.
“The city through its Department of Public Safety has an existing unit which deals with transgressions related to by-laws, notices, fines and enforcement, among other work. They work together with both municipal and other courts to ensure that such matters are processed. They therefore have access to the database related to notices.”
The initiative will also be geared towards delivering pre-termination notices and outstanding bills to some of the worst defaulters even at their workplaces.
“Our staff have been prevented from either delivering pre-termination notices, checking meters for illegal connections, or trying to cut services from defaulters’ homes and businesses. In some instances, they have also faced intimidation from homeowners. We will no longer tolerate this,” says Kgamanyane Maphologela, director for communications and stakeholder engagement.
“It is becoming increasingly dangerous for our staff to collect revenue. This is why the city has taken a decision to beef up the presence of JMPD officers in our credit control cut-off operations.”
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla assisted the city in compiling answers posed to the city.
Some of the city’s top 10 worst defaulters, who have had their services cut recently as part of the aggressive credit control campaign, belong to Region B.
Ward 69 councillor Genevieve Sherman said in response to the plan, “I agree everyone should pay for their utilities, but it is not as simple as that. In my ward some areas have 90% unemployment and even property owners in the leafy suburbs have run into financial difficulties.”
She believes the city should help residents make payment arrangements before taking such drastic steps to recoup outstanding funds.
She also criticises the lack of action by the city to target informal settlements which largely use illegal connections to city infrastructure as one example which could provide the municipality with additional funds. “Even if they charged a small flat rate or pre-paid meters for these communities would generate a huge amount of revenue.”
Ward 98 councillor Beverly Jacobs had grave concerns about the initiative. “This has not been shared with councillors, which is problematic in and of itself. In my ward there are so many neglected by-law issues that JMPD are not dealing with, nor are they able to cope with their existing traffic law enforcement role. Putting additional responsibilities on them is problematic. I feel this is completely irresponsible of the city manager.”
Property owners who wish to make payment arrangements may contact the city’s credit control department by emailing them at creditcontrol@joburg.org.za or by visiting any customer service centre across the city.
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