#Siyacima to coax businesses to pay metro
The MMC said the city attempted to reach out to the property owners to arrange with them to pay the outstanding amounts.
Businesses in Springs owe the municipality over R14m and the Ekurhuleni MMC of Finance, Nkululeko Dunga, will not take it lying down.
It was an eventful day when Dunga led the #SiyacimaManjeNamhlanje operation on Thursday, intending to recover the millions.
He said this was for services already rendered by the municipality.
“We are cutting off the electricity and water as part of the operation. Cut-off is always the last resort by the city in terms of credit control,” he explained.
The MMC said the city attempted to reach out to the property owners to arrange with them to pay the outstanding amounts.
On the first property, owing a little over R1m, the MMC and his team found the electricity in the building had already been disconnected. The panel beating company on the premises reconnected their supply through a neighbour. The water was disconnected.
Dunga was also concerned about the business contravening a few by-laws.
“They are only a few meters away from a school and work on the cars on the roadside. I am sure the fumes from the paints and the other products they use are not good for the children,” said Dunga.
He said he would refer the matter to the Environmental Resource and Waste Management Department for further investigation.
At another defaulting property in the CBD, Dunga uncovered a dodgy bakery.
“When we entered the reception area, we found packed biscuits, most of them were moldy. When we ventured into the kitchen, the place and equipment were filthy with a foul smell,” he explained.
Some of the freshly baked biscuits were on the floor.
The employees were four young men whom the SAPS later removed from the premises.
Dunga requested the health inspectors to investigate further.
Some of the properties they visited bypassed the city’s system to reconnect the electricity and water.
At the last property visited on the day, the team met a disgruntled owner who claimed that he paid his bill. The balance on his rates was more than R2m.
While looking for the electric meter box to disconnect it, officials stumbled upon suspected illicit alcohol.
“We had to hand the situation over to the SAPS, and let them investigate further,” said Dunga.
The SAPS and EMPD presence was heavy throughout the day.
The operation is ongoing, and the city is appealing to defaulting property owners to make payment arrangements with the city.
