More than 150 000 residents are already using the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s (EMM) online payment system, e-Siyakhokha.
e- Siyakhokha is a 24-hour online payment service that enables home owners, companies and property managers to access utility statements and to make payments electronically.
To access the service, users must first register on www.e-siyakhokha.co.za.
The EMM’s spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said the system is completely safe and has proved to be efficient since its inception three years ago.
He said over 150 000 users are already active and he added that the EMM is urging more residents to migrate online.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Finance, Clr Moses Makwakwa, said the service will curb erroneous cut-offs.
“The service provides confirmation of payments and matches the payment to the statement, thus ensuring that payments are correctly reflected against one’s account. Erroneous cut-offs due to incorrect referencing or delays in receiving payment are therefore almost completely eliminated,” said Clr Makwakwa.
The e-Siyakhokha platform also provides a full history of accounts. Users can interact and lodge queries via the service.
The EMM hopes the service will also alleviate long queues, which have become a regular sight at the rates office.
The service will also come in handy for residents during the December holidays. Users can predate the system to collect money on their preferred date.
“This means you can set the system to pay your account on a set date with a set amount if you are away on holiday. The system immediately gives you notification of payment and also keeps records of your accounts and payments from the time you register to use this method,” said the EMM’s chief financial officer, Mr Ramasela Gandi.
The EMM assured residents that the service is safe. According to the EMM, when a user accesses the e-Siyakhokha site, an encrypted and completely safe connection is made between their browser and the website.
