HIGHVELD – From Operation Kodiko to Operation Ruthula, the Govan Mbeki Municipality is still struggling to get residents and businesses to pay for their services.
The non-payment of services by some residents and businesses is one of the many reasons the municipality is failing to settle its Rand Water and Eskom accounts.
The municipality is drowning in debt, owing these parastatals more than a billion rand.
The executive mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono, acknowledged at the council meeting held on Thursday, 30 January, that these debts are a serious problem and that it is time for amicable solutions.
She said the municipality is working around the clock to find permanent solutions to this problem and that the municipality at least pays these accounts almost every month.
Ms Ngxonono said the council has established Operation Ruthula as an intervention mechanism to ensure that consumers – both households and businesses – pay their accounts.
“It is our view that this Operation Ruthula has the potential of collecting most of the debts that people still have with the municipality and we appeal that it should be supported across the spectrum.
“I am emphasising this matter of revenue collection simply because if we fail in this regard, the municipality will collapse.
“This will be a serious indictment on all of us as political leaders and administration, because we will be known as the people who presided over a municipality that eventually collapsed.”
She urged locals, including businesses, to come forward with possible solutions to these challenges and to commit to paying for the services the municipality provides.
Mr Ben Makola, MMC for Finance, echoed the words of Ms Ngxonono and said the municipality will not tolerate non-payment of services.
He said some of those who are not paying for their services, are doing it on purpose with an intention to collapse the municipality.
He claimed some of these people have told him straight to his face that they will not pay for services.
“It is time we name and shame them.
“I am on the ground with the law enforce disconnecting but this time around I will invite along our communication team so that, as we disconnect, we take pictures and videos of the perpetrators.
“We will publish these videos on various social media platforms.
“We will arrest those who are transgressing.
The Democratic Alliance argued that the municipality is on the verge of collapse, because of the ANC’s failure to implement its policies and bylaws.
Mr Hein Badenhorst, DA councillor, said this is the worst administration in his 20 years of serving on the council and that it has failed dismally to implement bylaws.
“You must also arrest yourselves for failing to implement your bylaws and policies.”
