West residents call for an end to Tshwane Ya Tima

Residents west of Pretoria are calling for an end to the Tshwane Ya Tima campaign, especially in townships.

This, among other grievances, was tabled in a memorandum during a community meeting held at the Atteridgeville community hall this past Sunday.

According to residents, the metro’s campaign to cut off electricity to non-paying targets the poorest of the poor through fake letters of demand, estimated bills and coercing residents to make arrangements on estimated bills.

Members of the Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville and the Saulsville Civic Association (Lasca), along with various ward councillors and metro representatives were in attendance.

Chairperson of Lasca, Tshepo Mahlangu called out numerous MMCs and senior officials that chose not to attend especially members from finance, credit control, billing and debt collections.

“We felt that they are avoiding accountability for maladministration, corruption and nepotism in their portfolios and departments,” Mahlangu states.

“Lasca and the communities vow to hold them to account, regardless of their actions. These officials continually avoid meeting with the ratepayers of Tshwane and that amounts to undermining the will of the people,” Mahlangu continues.

Not avoiding the aggrieved residents was finance MMC, Ald Peter Sutton.

The MMC vowed that the Tshwane Ya Tima will be stopped, especially toward the indigent households.

“We want to assure you all that we are committed to working with Lasca and other entities to resolve the issues that we have within the municipality,” Sutton states.

“We would also like to caution you all to be wary of imposters posing as City officials or Executive Committee members of Lasca that will try and extort money from you. We urge you to report this should you ever come across such people.”

Sutton also briefly touched on the residents’ complaints regarding the tendering processes and supply chain “syndicates” though was unable to address many concerns due to the absence of representatives of the finance, credit control, debt collections and billing departments.

Lasca, however, remained sceptical of the MMC’s supposed commitment.

“Lasca is not entirely convinced or satisfied with MMC Sutton’s presentation. It is not the first time he made such immaterial commitments to the residents of Tshwane.

“We feel that it is yet another piece of lip service to us. We hope he acts on his commitment by urgently addressing the issues raised,” Mahlangu said.

Tshwane council speaker Cllr Mncedi Ndzwanana shared the sentiments as the finance MMC regarding residents being extorted by false officials.

“Please be aware that there are individuals who come to Tshwane House requesting meetings under the pretence that they are sent by Lasca. Lasca and Tshwane residents should guard against such opportunistic criminal elements,” Ndzwanana states.

The speaker also announced metro plans to re-introduce imbizos and ward committees in Tshwane.

A memorandum was drafted for the speaker to hand to the council, among the demands were the following resolutions;

1. A special urgent council sitting for all councillors to vote in favour of scrapping the “erroneous” estimated bill system.

2. The complete end of the Tshwane Ya Tima campaign, especially in townships.

3. An end to debt collection contracts

4. An end to credit control actions

The metro has been given 14 days to respond to the memorandum.

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