POLOKWANE – The 30-day grace period for settling municipal accounts in arrears ends tomorrow (Friday), and the Polokwane Municipality is set to intensify credit control enforcement, including the blocking of prepaid meters, starting next week.

Consumers who have not settled their outstanding accounts or made acceptable agreements by the deadline may face service interruptions until they comply. Reactivation of meters will be handled from the municipal offices and will allow for the acceptance of payment voucher codes once again.

According to the municipality’s credit control regulations, all of a resident’s municipal accounts are considered a combined debt, and any service can be terminated due to outstanding balances on any other municipal account.

In a media release on Monday, the municipality mentioned several assistance programmes available for those unable to pay their municipal debts, including payment arrangements and property rates rebates for qualifying individuals.

The municipality urged all account holders who qualify as indigent residents to apply for the indigent subsidy to receive assistance.

The municipality also extended its appreciation to customers who pay their accounts every month, ensuring that services continue without disruption.

“Like every municipality in the country, Polokwane Municipality relies on revenue from ratepayers to build, maintain, and expand infrastructure and provide essential services. Collecting due payments is crucial for the municipality to continue serving the community effectively,” the statement reads.

Jacques Joubert, DA ward councillor in the municipality and spokesperson on finance, stated that the DA in Polokwane welcomes any effort to enforce credit control in a just and equitable manner. Joubert highlighted that the May 2024 finance report showed Polokwane’s current debt book was in excess of R2b, with a collection rate of only 81% for May 2024, below the national norm of 95%.

“Clearly, it cannot be business as usual if Polokwane wishes to remain financially viable in the short to medium term with aspirations of becoming Limpopo’s first municipality with metro status,” Joubert remarked.

He said credit control must be enforced transparently and fairly across all 45 wards of Polokwane, including areas like Mankweng, Seshego, and the city cluster. Joubert added that government departments owe the municipality nearly R270m, with almost R200m outstanding for over a year.

“While we welcome efforts to enforce credit control in order for the municipality to provide services to residents, this must be done equitably. Government departments also have a responsibility to pay for services received,” he concluded.

For account enquiries, reconnections and prepaid services, contact the municipality at 081 517 0042/083 673 3238/081 747 0878 / 083 301 3738 or on landlines: 015 290 2679/2680/2681/2684, or e-mail: statement@polokwane.gov.za /billingc@polokwane.gov.za.