Media statement 13 March 2024
Cllr Cilliers Brink
Executive Mayor of Tshwane
On Tuesday, 12 March 2024, I led a Tshwane Ya Tima revenue-collection campaign that completed electricity disconnections worth R53,1 million and water restrictions and disconnections worth R13,2 million in various areas of the city.
This included two businesses in Pretoria West, which had tampered with their meters and owe the City a combined R6,3 million, R2,3 million in Elardus Park and R970 000 from a guesthouse.
We continue to observe many illegal connections from defaulting clients who run up high service bills and fail to pay the City. The Tshwane Ya Tima team will be monitoring these areas after the cut-off operations and ensure that those who illegally reconnect face the music.
Illegal connections are a criminal offence and the City will use Section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977) to go after offenders and claim compensation.
I would like to thank those who pay for their services. By honouring your obligation, you enable improved service delivery. Residents who are struggling to keep up with their payments are reminded to make payment arrangements at any of our customer care centres. Do not wait for the City to come and disconnect your services!
We need to stop the culture of non-payment as everyone must pay for what they consume. The City needs revenue to deliver services and to honour commitments to creditors such as Eskom and Rand Water.
We are firm in our stance that the financial rescue of the City is non-negotiable, therefore, every effort must be made to restore the City to a financially healthy position as quickly as possible.
Media enquiries:
Sipho Stuurman