Patala … or lose your lights
Pay up or we will cut your electricity. This dire warning comes from the Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality.
“With almost R900 million in outstanding debt from our customers and a paying rate of only 50%, we have to take these strict measures,” said Mayor Marlene van Staden.
This operation is dubbed Operation Patala (pay up) and the team will follow a weekly program to cut power to those dwellings where residents’ accounts are in arrears.
Residents and businesses who are more than 60 days in arrears and have not paid by the seventh of each month, run the risk of their electricity being cut off.
“We have to make hard decisions that might upset some residents, but it is for the benefit of all the people that reside in our municipal area. Even though municipal service delivery is not what it should be, residents have to pay their accounts. Without income, there can be no service delivery at all.”
According to Van Staden, households owe the municipality R697 million, commercial clients R145 million, and government-owned enterprises R48 million.
“The department of rural development and schools are the biggest culprits in the government section,” she said.
“We had a meeting with the department of education to resolve this issue. Stakeholders advised the municipality that schools’ property taxes are paid by the department of public works and the norms and standards grants they receive should be used to pay for municipal services. The money they owe us is for services rendered,” she said.
“Farm owners are also in debt of property taxes owed to the municipality. Residents on both farms and in town must keep in mind that when they want to sell their properties or it is inherited, that debt must still be paid.”
Van Staden encouraged residents to pay up or make a payment arrangement with the municipality before their electricity is cut off or a legal process is pursued.
“Residents do not realize that the municipality can sell someone’s property to recoup the debt incurred,” she warned. “We encourage residents to act in time to prevent this.”
The municipality has bought a thousand new prepaid meters. Residents whose meters are not working can get a replacement for free. Those who have the old type can buy a meter for R1 700.
She reminded residents that no councilor, herself included, has access to the financial system to check the amount outstanding. Residents will have to make inquiries at the municipality and get statements from officials.
If there is a dispute with an account, residents can phone the manager of revenue Johannes Molekoa on tel. 083 292 9096.
