City clamps down on non-paying customers in Centurion
Accounts from wards in Centurion owe more than R1.42-billion as the city opened criminal cases against illegal reconnections.
Centurion residents and business have not been spared as the metro clamps down on its R23.3-billion debtors.
The metro has been identifying and disconnecting non-paying businesses, government departments, households, and residential estates across the city whose accounts are in arrears.
Various Centurion wards owe the city millions.
MMC for finance Jacqui Uys provided the breakdown of figures from the end of January:
– Ward 48 owes R248.27-million at a 57.48% repayment rate
– Ward 57 owes R72.74-million at a 58.76% repayment rate
– Ward 61 owes R155.66-million at a 45.97% repayment rate
– Ward 64 owes R59.12-million at a 71.46% repayment rate
– Ward 65 owes R220.24-million at a 48.65% repayment rate
– Ward 66 owes R77.78-million at a 67.62% repayment rate
-Ward 69 owes R39.14-million at a 69.73% repayment rate
– Ward 70 owes R153.64-million at a 65% repayment rate
– Ward 77 owes R305.25-million at a 45.29% repayment rate
– Ward 78 owes R28.28-million at a 63.26% repayment rate
– Ward 79 owes R85.46-million at a 67.32% repayment rate
– Ward 106 owes R21.43-million at a 7.9% repayment rate
Also Read: Shopping centre disputes illegal reconnection claims
During its disconnection campaign, the metro discovered several illegal connections and opened criminal cases.
“We have also uncovered a bigger network of corruption that possibly implicates city officials working with some of these clients, doing illegal reconnections.”
Uys told Rekord this prompted further investigation.
“We intend to go after everyone who breaks the law and reconnects illegally.”
Clients who make themselves guilty of illegal reconnection will face fraud and tampering with infrastructure charges.
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said, “[This] disconnection action should serve as a notice to those who continue to tamper with the city’s infrastructure that their criminal actions will be met with adequate and decisive action from the municipality, working jointly with the criminal justice cluster.”
According to Mashigo, an Eastern Cape court had set a precedent on March 9, 2021 when it sentenced a Mount Frere businessman to 12 years in prison for illegal power connection and tampering with Eskom infrastructure.
Also Read: Metro lays charges against ‘rebellious’ Lyttelton complex
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