On Wednesday, October 6 the City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Moerane launched the much-anticipated e-Joburg portal that will see residents experience the convenience of accessing municipal customer services online.
The Mayor, who launched the portal alongside the project owner, Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance, Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, described its launch as a milestone step towards transforming Johannesburg into a Smart City.
“The e-Joburg portal is a new tool designed for the delivery of smart municipal services in the most convenient way for Johannesburg residents. It is set to drive automation and self-service that is aimed at reducing the time and manual workload on the City’s personnel and resources that go into customer service,” Mayor Moerane said.
According to the statement issued by the City of Joburg, the e-Joburg is part of their long-term Growth and Development Strategy – the GDS 2040 – to become a Smart City in how services are delivered to the people of Johannesburg in line with global standards for local governments.
“Inspired by our slogan – A world Class African City, the portal is a platform that the City will build on to become Africa’s leading Smart City. This is especially the case as the portal brings convenience that will see ratepayers and other municipal customers electronically interact with the City in their comfort zones, using either a computer, a cellphone or tablet.
The Mayor went on to say that the e-Joburg portal is just the beginning of demonstrating their commitment as a City to serving the people of Johannesburg using innovative ways that offer convenient customer services.
“As of today, the City’s residents, especially ratepayers, can register and be authenticated on the portal to start viewing and transacting on their municipal accounts,” the Mayor said.
Sharing his excitement upon accessing the portal and immediately transacting on it successfully on his personal municipal account, he encouraged Johannesburg residents to try the payment services on the portal for their municipal accounts, which are secured and integrated with banking infrastructure.
Speaking during the launch, Mayor Moerane also pointed out that the portal was designed and developed using technology and processes that were well proven and recognised worldwide, citing the South African Revenue Services’ eFiling system as one of the tested technologies.
“This provides the additional confidence that our e-Joburg portal is convenient, secure and user-friendly. It even allows customers to lodge complaints and queries online from the comfort and convenience of their homes or office,” he said.
MMC Mfikoe, who has been closely monitoring the development progress of the e-Joburg portal under the City’s digital entity, the Metropolitan Trading Company, said more services are being introduced in phases which started with the Smart Online Bill Management for residential customers, government, companies and managing agents.
“This is the first phase that allows customers to receive, manage and pay their municipal accounts from the comfort of their homes or office. No more standing in long queues. The portal is set to not only improve service delivery, but boost revenue collection while lowering administrative costs,” she said.
The next phase of the e-Joburg portal is set to add an electronic meter reading enabler – ending residents’ frustration with estimated meter readings. Ratepayers will be able to capture their water and electricity readings electronically that will be used to create their bills.
“This means accurate billing and thus a subsequent improvement in happy customers and increased levels of payment. Meanwhile the ratepayers’ transaction on the e-Joburg portal is managed by a built-in intelligence system that monitors false and manipulated meter reading entries,” she said.
MMC Mfikoe assured the Mayor that she was confident that the portal would substantially improve the billing process.
“In addition to all these convenience public benefits offered by the portal, we anticipate the inclusion of a low-cost WhatsApp capability in the next phase of the portal services roll-out. Ratepayers will be able to view bills, make payments and submit meter readings on this social media platform,” she said.
This will be in addition to more automation, integrated query logging and resolution, applications and payment arrangements, among other services.
