Tshwane disconnects more defaulting customers in Pretoria North
Customers are encouraged to settle their arrears or approach the municipality for a payment arrangement in order to ensure continued supply of services.
A total of 44 properties, both residential and business, were disconnected in Pretoria North last week as Tshwane forged ahead with its rescue mission to recoup monies owed by biggest defaulters.
The #TshwaneYaTima drive is in full swing to collect R6.2-billion in six months from the most indebted customers in the metro against the backdrop of the metro’s own debt spiralling to close to R4-billion this year.
The revenue collection campaign is on a drive to disconnect the electricity to defaulting clients who run up high service bills and then fail to pay their monthly invoices.
In February the metro had hit the ground running to collect what it was owed on all accounts after it had paid Eskom only R400-million in September last year.
This is as Tshwane’s September invoice tallied over R1-billion.
The Tshwane Ya Tima drive has in the early part of the year been refocused to target the top 1 500 debtors that collectively owe the city R6.2-billion.
“The amount owing to Eskom as of January 31 is almost R4-billion,” said metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba
Bokaba said the metro had been collecting 90% of its revenue target in the past three months, however this should be higher than 95%.
“In essence, we only missed our collection target by 5%.”
Bokaba said customers should settle their arrears or approach the municipality for a payment arrangement in order to ensure continued supply of services.
“Customers should refrain from connecting illegally. We are busy with the audit of meters and where we determine that the meter has been tampered with or the customer is a low buyer due to tampering, stringent action will be taken against the offending customer.”
He said tampering with the meter has dire consequences.
“In terms of the electricity by-law, tampering, interference or by-passing is deemed to be an offence in terms of section 27(2) and (3) of the Electricity Act, 1987 (Act 41 of 1987) and makes the perpetrator guilty of an offence.”
Upon conviction, the perpetrator will face a fine and/or imprisonment.
The municipality disconnects supply immediately without prior notice to the consumer and will impose a fine for tampering. The fine should be paid before the service can be restored, said Bokaba.
STATEMENT: City of Tshwane kicks off Billing Days Outreach Programme to help residents keep their municipal accounts in good standing. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/UDAtdCm4rj
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) February 13, 2024
MMC for finance Jacqui Uys said the city will kick off its billing days outreach to help residents keep their municipal accounts in good standing following the mayor announcing a bold financial rescue plan for the metro.
“I am pleased to inform our residents that the city will embark on the outreach.
“The outreach is instrumental in helping residents keep their municipal accounts in good standing and encouraging them to pay regularly for services.”
The outreach will focus on the following:
– Meter reading and invoicing
– Credit control and assistance with payment arrangements
– Billing enquiries
– Social development (indigent programme)
– Electricity queries
– Issues pertaining to late estates
– Property rates and valuations
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