Residents up in arms about muni accounts

Residents of the city were up in arms last Thursday after they received SMS messages that their electricity would be cut off due to non-payment of their July accounts. When efforts to communicate with officials of the Polokwane Municipality failed, emotions ran high. The enquiry lines at the municipality’s customer care unit were reportedly heavily congested as officials were inundated with calls from concerned consumers.
Matshidiso Mothapo, acting Communications and Marketing Manager of the municipality confirmed that the SMS messages were erroneously sent out but messages to recall it were sent out shortly after it was realised that references to the data contained in the messages were for the previous month.
In the acceptance speech delivered by Thembi Nkadimeng, Polokwane Executive Mayor after her inauguration last Thursday, she said that the municipality was aware of the challenges experienced with the current billing system but believed it will be something of the past once the smart metering system is rolled out later this year.
The south-eastern part of Westenburg was without electricity from Sunday due to cable theft, it was learnt. Services were restored on Tuesday morning, it was confirmed.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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