Fraud allegations untrue, says metro
"What he did, by harassing the contractors, was a tacit attempt aimed at dissuading them from disconnecting his electricity."
The Tshwane metro has denied allegations that two of its contractors tried to scam a resident in Sinoville.
This was after a photo went viral on social media.
Further allegations were made that the contractors were carrying a speedpoint machine which did not bear the metro’s logo.
The photo was of an incident that took place on the morning of July 20.
“Two contractors were dispatched to a resident’s house to disconnect his electricity,” said metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba
“The resident’s account was in arrears for about R370 000 for the water, electricity, sanitation, waste and property rates bill.”
Upon arrival, they found one of the metro’s employees with him outside his yard, not far away from the meter kiosk.
“Apparently, the metro official from the water and sanitation department was passing by when he was stopped by the customer who allegedly started shouting at him.
“When one of the contractors stepped out of his vehicle, the customer shifted his focus to him and allegedly continued to scream and hurl insults at him, accusing him of engaging in fraud. The contractors ignored his outbursts and didn’t respond.
“The customer refused to co-operate with the contractors and proceeded to take their pictures and that of their vehicle.”
Bokaba explained that metro officials and contractors, who are part of the #TshwaneYaTima campaign, only carry a job card with details of customers or a device, which is preloaded with the customer’s details, together with a mobile hand-held printer when executing duties.
He emphasised that the contractors didn’t have the device nor the printer in their possession, but a copy of the job card which already had the customer’s details on it.
“What he did, by harassing the contractors, was a tacit attempt aimed at dissuading them from disconnecting his electricity.
“He also potentially put the lives of the contractors at risk by taking their pictures and that of their vehicle registration plates and publicly circulating them.
“The customer should know that his antics won’t deter the metro from effecting credit control measures and recouping the billions the City is owed by its customers,” Bokaba said.
He said that when customers are in doubt of officials’ or contractors’ bona fides, they should contact or visit the nearest City of Tshwane
Customer Care Walk-in-Centre or call 012 358 9999 and follow the voice prompts.
Customers can pay their accounts through third parties such as banks and retail stores or via e-Tshwane or at any of the walk-in centres.
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