Executive Campbell meets with Thembisans following violent protests
“I want to apologise for not coming to address you earlier. Electricity has been restored in most parts of Thembisa after the destruction of the substation a few days ago."
Executive Mayor Tania Campbell met with Thembisans on Friday to provide feedback on their memorandum following a week of violence in the township.
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“I want to apologise for not coming to address you earlier,” said Campbell.
“Electricity has been restored in most parts of Thembisa after the destruction of the substation a few days ago. This is the first step that we have taken in restoring services.”
In responding to residents’ grievances about debt relief she said CoE developed a debt rehabilitation programme that will assist residents with historic debt.
“We will provide you with a 50% write-off of debt in excess of one year on the date of application approval, inclusive of rates, service charges, interest and other costs.”
The scheme will be available to qualifying applicants from July 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.
“Historic debt and incorrect billing need to be rectified immediately.
“We assure you that the issue of the inaccurate billing system is being resolved. We will also ensure that bills for water, sanitation, rates and taxes are separated from the electricity bill.”
She said CoE is in the process of reviewing its indigent policy to ensure that all residents who qualify for subsidies can be assisted. The amended policy will be gazetted for public comments.
“While the process unfolds, we have resolved to stop any disconnections and declines of indigent applications for the next 90 days.
“We will be bringing this matter of the indigent policy review as an urgent item to council for approval.”
She said property owners who feel that their properties are over-valued can submit Section 78 query forms at any of the customer care centres or the valuations section at Kempton Park Civic Centre to be assisted with this process.
The Section 78 process will run until the current valuation roll comes to an end on June 30, 2024.
“We will start rolling out the SMS system to notify all residents of their account arrears, which means that residents will no longer be charged for the administration and delivery of cut-off notice letters.
“Residents must ensure that they are registered on the Siyakhokha online portal,” said Campbell.
She added that CoE will distribute 27 000 wheelie bins to the households and that metro will clean up all illegal dumping sites around Thembisa.
100 free electricity units
“CoE will continue to provide 50kws free basic units as we are allowed to.
“The 100kws free basic units are outside of our due restrictions as a municipality, therefore, we are engaging with the provincial and national government to find a solution,” said Campbell.
She said customer care centres will operate six days a week from Monday to Saturday (at 13:00) and that centres will not close at lunchtime.
“I have instructed the administration to investigate incidents of bribery, corruption and collusion with so-called lawyers who are stealing your hard-earned money.
“As you are aware that the customer care centre building was burned down in the wake of the unrest and we have identified a new facility at the corner of Star Street and Asteroid Street, close to Makhulong Stadium.
“CoE realises the issue of tariffs needs to be evaluated case by case. As a result, this issue will also be dealt with during a two-week long open day to assist you in ensuring that every household is billed under the correct tariff,” said Campbell.
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