Ward 71 councillor, René Benjamin recently released a statement in which she provided feedback pertaining to City Termination Notices.
According to René some residents were issued with these notices while others hadn’t received any communication with regards to their debt rehabilitation programme applications.
“For those residents who were issued with these notices from the City, this matter was addressed with the office of the MMC of Finance. Part of the concern is that many residents applied for the programme and that not everyone had received the necessary communication. The request was to have the accounts flagged so that they were not disconnected,” she explained.
She subsequently called on all residents to inform her if they had received such a notice or experienced a lack of communication. Their details were then sent to the office of the MMC of Finance.
“I also requested that the office consider a moratorium on disconnections until the debt rehabilitation programme is complete. The request for flagging the accounts was made to the finance office again on Monday (February 7). They are yet to respond to this request.
“I did receive a written response from the finance office on the standing of the termination accounts sent to them, and feedback on those who had, had not and whose applications for debt rehabilitation were still in the process. This information I have started sending to individually affected residents. “
Some residents have received credits for the debt rehabilitation programme while others are still being processed. Some residents did not participate in the programme for financial relief.
Once René has received a response from the finance office on the flagging of accounts, she will provide feedback to all affected residents.
“If you find yourself in an unfortunate position where you are in arrears with your account, please take an opportunity to try and make arrangements at any of the revenue offices either in Roodepoort or Florida Civic Centre,” urged René.
“Communication will be sent on the public participation on the Credit Control Policy, and this is where you as the residents and businesses whom this policy is affecting have your input and can effect change.”
