Owners of a property in Laudium, west of Pretoria, are in trouble with the City of Tshwane for reconnecting illegally to the power grid three times following the disconnection drive over the past three weeks for R2.6 million outstanding municipal bills.
Finance MMC Jacqui Uys, who led a municipal team during the City’s revenue-collection campaign called Tshwane Ya Tima, said the property’s power supply was cut off from the electricity pole.
In addition, the City would take legal action against the property owners for electricity theft and tampering with City infrastructure.
The City vowed to issue a fine against owners and open a criminal case against them.
Uys said: “We will be taking further action against this property. We are calling on residents to not fall for any request for bribes. Do not pay any bribes and be responsible citizens to work with us in order to fix the City.”
She praised efforts by municipal workers at the forefront of Tshwane Ya Tima campaign for recording some successes in terms of recouping monies owed to the City in recent months.
“Part of this initiative is for us to go out in communities to assist people with account and billing queries, as well ass applications for the poorest of the poor. In some cases, (we will) look at the affordability and how debt can be written off.
“Of course, it remains the responsibility of residents to take control of their debts. And that is why when you do not pay your account, we come out to disconnect your electricity,” she said.
She said the revenue-collection operation in Laudium discovered 52 illegal electricity connections worth R1,5m.
“The total debt owed by Laudium accounts currently sits at R125m. From 9 to 11 July 2024, the City found 73 incidents of electricity tampering amounting to R2,1m in Regions 4, 5 and 6, including Laudium,” Uys said.
She emphasised that while the City did its best to reach out and assist, it remained the responsibility of residents to ensure that their accounts were up to date.
“Residents are encouraged to come forward to make payment arrangements with the City when they run into financial difficulty. Failure to do this will result in disconnections. I want to thank all the residents who pay their accounts in full and on time. You are helping us to build a City that works for all its people,” Uys said.
Pretoria News