Tshwane is yet to reach its revenue target this month after collecting only 80 percent of the R6.2-billion it had set itself.
It planned to collect R6.2-billion in six months from February.
Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro only collected 80% of overall revenue in March.
Mashigo said the campaign was unfolding well, since it was intensified in February in an attempt to cover its R23.3-billion debt book.
“The reactivating of Tshwane Ya Tima campaign is going well so far.”
He said residential areas, businesses, government offices, employees and embassies were on their list for debt recovery.
Re ba fitlhetse, posh life akere! Disconected for non-payment. #TshwaneYaTima pic.twitter.com/iVuG9nZBF6
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 16, 2024
When you think we are here for a refund…, BOOM, your lights are off. #SARS owes us 838 k #TshwaneYaTima pic.twitter.com/XoAt3YEZf6
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 16, 2024
The team did a 'rip' disconnection here. They had to remove installation permanently.
Asidlali because meter tampering is illegal. #TshwaneYaTima pic.twitter.com/pW4oMH6083
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 11, 2024
“The embassies’ arrears, excluding the current accounts, are at R4.5-million.”
“There are six embassies which are in arrears and the city is in the process of recouping the money through its credit control processes. One of the embassies is owing more than R2-million.”
The team did a 'rip' disconnection here. They had to remove installation permanently.
Asidlali because meter tampering is illegal. #TshwaneYaTima pic.twitter.com/pW4oMH6083
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 11, 2024
In March, Tshwane intensified its disconnection actions against rebellious payers.
During this period the Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection programme returned in full swing after the drive, known to name and shame the biggest defaulters, was initiated in 2021.
The metro said the drive had become a daily priority for Tshwane as all non-paying consumers were being targeted.
It said more capacity was added to the Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection programme such as increased teams to secure more disconnections.
According to a statement by MMC for finance Jacqui Uys, at the time Tshwane was already seeing the impact of the programme on daily cash collections.
“The current rate of collections will see the city collecting R500-million of the R1-billion monthly stretched target as per the financial rescue plan, bringing cash collections for March 2024 to about R3.5-billion.”
“Following the relaunch of the disconnection drive, the city had received calls from residents to focus on specific areas which they assume have a high rate of defaulting clients.”
Uys also said that the R23.3-billion debtors’ book was not made up of specific communities but consisted of business, government and residential accounts all over Tshwane.
Here’s a list of wards that owed the most in March:
– Ward 42, including Waterkloof and Monumentpark, owed R756.7 million with a payment rate of 53.68%
– Ward 101, including Silver Lakes and Boschkop, owed R726.5 million with a payment rate of 40.23%
– Ward 84, including Queenswood and Kilner Park, owed R485.3 million with a payment rate of 29.69%
– Ward 17, including Mamelodi West, owed R485.6 million with a payment rate of 29.69%
– Ward 21, including Mabopane, owed R449.5 million with a payment rate of 12.9%
It needs to be mentioned that Ward 69, including Centurion, has the highest payment rate at 69.73%.
Tshwane also said that the Tshwane Ya Tima teams regularly came across clients who run up high service bills, fail to pay then connect illegally after being cut off.
“The city is also embarking on a process to open criminal cases for both theft and tampering against owners of property with illegal connections. A forensic audit is also underway internally on the possible involvement of metro employees in illegal reconnections.
We urge all residents with information to come forward so that we can put an end to this corruption and looting that got the city to where it is.”
Residents are reminded that the fine for illegal connections and electricity theft is R27 600 for individual and household accounts, and R688 000 for business accounts. In addition to these fines, the city will also lay criminal charges and pursue recovery of lost income.”
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink encouraged the culture of non-payment to stop and that residents had to pay for services consumed.
“The city needs revenue to deliver services and honour its commitments to Eskom and Rand Water.”
He reminded clients that illegal connections were a criminal offence and that the metro would use Section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977) to go after offenders and claim compensation.
LATEST:
[WATCH] We are coming for all illegal connections with a special focus on Security Estates. Today we disconnected a nice house at Avante Country Estate, in Orchards, Akasia. #TshwaneYaTima @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/D5zNq3B5uV
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) April 30, 2024
So far we’ve found 22 (and counting) illegal connections at Nkwe Estate in Rosslyn, Akasia. We will follow up all these cases with legal action. Electricity theft is crime. #TshwaneYaTima pic.twitter.com/Hcl85PlWLe
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) April 30, 2024
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