The network hack to the City of Johannesburg systems has caused concern to Johannesburg residents for several reasons. Is the information safe? What has happened since the ransom deadline was not met? When will the COJ services be back online?
Significant progress has been made in restoring the COJ services. The City knows how and where their system was hacked and has implemented additional security measures but there are still concerns.
Read more:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/462911/an-update-on-the-coj-cyber-attack/
Many residents are wary about paying their municipal accounts due to the precautionary shut-down. The main concerns about payments revolve around whether or not their information is safe, and fear that their money will not be received or recorded.
The MMC for Finance, Funzela Ngobeni, has confirmed that the billing system was not affected by the breach.
The billing, financial, and personal information of COJ customers was not compromised and residents are urged to continue to pay their municipal accounts. Roodepoort Civic Centre and Roodepoort City Hall are open to customers with billing enquiries.
If you are questioning how to pay your accounts with the shut-down that was implemented, customers can pay using various methods:
•EFT
•EasyPay outlets (Pick ‘n Pay and Checkers)
•The Post Office
E-Statement customers who cannot receive their accounts from the e-Services portal are asked to pay an average of their previous monthly payments. The customers who pay their monthly average will not be penalized.
All payments made through the above mentioned methods will be captured and reflect in the next municipal account statement cycle.
Ngobeni has said that the City is remaining committed to restoring the rest of its services as soon as possible.
