Tshwane disconnections target clients to the tune of R70m in east and west of Pretoria
The Tshwane mayor has warned that tampering with essential infrastructure is a criminal offence liable for prosecution or a fine.
Tshwane’s campaign to collect what is owed to them for water and electricity consumption has led to disconnections amounting to R70-million in the east and west of Pretoria.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink said the campaign was chasing after defaulters with large amounts of outstanding water and electricity bills.
Cilliers said R53.1-million was owed for electricity and R13.2-million for water.
“Tshwane Ya Tima revenue collection campaign completed electricity disconnections worth R53.1-million and water restrictions and disconnections worth R13.2-million in various areas of the city,” Brink said.
He said this included two businesses in Pretoria West, which had tampered with their meters and owed the city a combined R6.3-million.
Brink said the city continues to observe many illegal connections by defaulting clients who run up high service bills and fail to pay.
“The Tshwane Ya Tima team will be monitoring these areas after the disconnections and ensure that those who illegally reconnect face the music.”
He said illegal connections are a criminal offence and the city will use Section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977) to go after offenders and claim compensation.
STATEMENT: Tshwane Ya Tima completes electricity and water disconnections worth about R70 million in one day. @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/nIsxlE3hcZ
— Cilliers Brink (@CilliersB) March 13, 2024
Brink said if residents do not pay for service rendered, that negatively impacts service delivery.
“The metro needs revenue to deliver services and honour commitments to creditors such as Eskom and Rand Water.
Residents who are struggling to keep up with their payments are reminded to make payment arrangements at any of our customer care centres.
Do not wait for the metro to come and disconnect your services. We need to stop the culture of non-payment as everyone must pay for what they consume,” he said.
He extended his appreciation to residents who pay for services.
“By honouring your obligation, you enable improved service delivery.”
On Monday, March 11, MMC Kingsley Wakelin embarked on the Tshwane Ya Tima drive in Lynnwood.
Wakelin said two of the targeted properties are abandoned.
“This makes it difficult for the city as well as the owner because we found that there are squatters in those properties.”
Wakelin urged owners who abandoned their properties to arrange with the metro because they are billed for what is being used by the squatters.
The #TshwaneYaTima drive is an aggressive credit control scheme to collect R6.2-billion in six months from the most indebted customers in the metro against the backdrop of the metro’s own debt spiralling to close to R4-billion this year.
Tshwane Ya Tima drive has been refocused to target the top 1 500 highest debtors, who owe the city R6.2-billion collectively.
The drive was initiated in 2021, however, it did not yield a significant boost in ending the drought of payments to Eskom.
We back with a Cherry Picker to disconnect this Hatfield household from the feeder line. They didn’t wanna grant us access earlier to the meter box but we are back! #TshwaneYaTima @CityTshwane https://t.co/UzLF8cuPjB pic.twitter.com/rmK9uyRQOv
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) March 12, 2024
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