SARS services uninterrupted despite disconnection

Services at the SA Revenue Service (SARS) in Ashlea Gardens remained uninterrupted despite the utility services being disconnected by the Tshwane metro on Tuesday.

“The office is using a generator and remains operational. Services to taxpayers are continuing uninterruptedly,” SARS said in a statement.

SARS further clarified that they did not own the building which the metro disconnected.

“We wish to put it on record that the building does not belong to SARS. It is a leased property, and to date, all services have been paid for and on time.”

An apology was also extended to taxpayers who might have been inconvenienced.

“We sincerely apologise to taxpayers for the inconvenience that this may have caused. We will engage with the property’s owners to have this matter attended to urgently.”

The metro announced that it had disconnected utility services to the building on social media on the same day.

The metro embarked on a revenue-collection drive that sought to disconnect services to defaulting clients that had run up high service bills, but failed to pay the metro.

The drive has been coined operation #TshwaneYaTima (Tshwane is switching off).

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Mayor Randall Williams clarified that it was not a publicity stunt.

“We mean business and intend to go after all of our debtors. They cannot continue to use our services for free. All debtors have an obligation to pay the city for services rendered,” he said.

Previously, the metro said its debtor’s book stood at over R17-billion.

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