The City of Johannesburg has issued and delivered High Court summonses against the top 50 owing customers with a combined debt of more than R166.9m on unpaid municipal services.
The defaulters comprise property management companies, investment firms and a large state-owned company.
Kgamanyane Maphologela, director of customer communications for the city’s Group Finance Department, said the city had no choice but to resort to the court to force some of the businesses to pay for their municipal services.
“The city’s debtors’ book is unsustainable, and as a result, we are forced to employ aggressive credit control measures. Businesses and residents need to understand that if they do not pay their municipal accounts regularly and on time we might not be able to guarantee the continuous provision of crucial services like water and electricity supply,” said Maphologela.
Maphologela went on to say that the city was emboldened to take defaulters to court after the recent High Court judgment in favour of the city.
“The city had won a decade-long case against a massive residential block of flats, which had illegally connected itself to the electricity supply. On August 23, the High Court of South Africa had ruled that the city cannot be compelled to continue to supply electricity to a block of flats in Hillbrow which had, for years, illegally connected itself to the grid,” said Maphologela.
Maphologela warns that the city will continue with its aggressive credit control campaign this festive season.
“We appeal to our customers, both businesses and residential to settle their outstanding municipal bills to avoid experiencing a black festive season.
“All property owners who are struggling to service their municipal accounts for several reasons, are advised to approach the City for further assistance, by means of payment arrangements (acknowledgement of debt) to avoid disconnection of services,” said Maphologela.
Customers may pay using any of the listed methods below:
• e-Joburg portal: www.e-joburg.org.za
• With EasyPay, facilitating a quick payment option at many shops that you visit on a regular basis, including Pick ‘n Pay and Shoprite Checkers
• Debit orders
• Direct deposits at major banks
• ATMs
• Internet and cellphone banking
• SA Post Office
• Any council pay point (customer service centre)
Customers who wish to make payment arrangements and do not wish to visit any of the abovementioned walk-in-centres may contact the City’s Credit Control Department by emailing them on creditcontrol@joburg.org.za
