The Randfontein Local Municipality will shortly be writing off debts to the tune of R56 million – this amount being owed by 18 125 residents.
Residents of Randfontein owe the municipality a total of R214 million. The write-off is good news for residents but bad news for the municipality and its budget.
“I was going through documents and came across information that gives a bleak picture about the state of the municipality and the residents’ attitude towards payment of services,” said Tshidiso Tlharipe, spokesperson for the Randfontein Executive Mayor.
In the documents, Tlharipe found the municipality suffered losses of R21,8 million for water and R30,8 million for electricity, due to illegal connectivity.
Tlharipe said he has noticed certain payment patterns, which he describes as poor.
He feels that residents treat paying their municipal accounts as less important than any other creditor they owe, but the same residents are quick to seek infrastructural development.
The general attitude towards paying municipal accounts affects the municipality’s ability to deliver financially.”
He added “and something needs to be done in order to improve service delivery challenges and the community’s conduct towards payment of services.”
He concluded by saying “Many residents are quick to toyi toyi to express their displeasure, but a look at the way they pay for services shows that their attitude is very poor.”
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Also read:
Municipality to adress debt write offs
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