Central SA
Northern Cape municipality to recuperate millions in debt─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 14:08 Wed, 10 Aug 2022
Approximately R800 million is owed to the Kimberley-based Sol Plaatje Municipality by the Northern Cape Government Departments for electricity used.
The municipality’s spokesperson, Thoko Riet, explains that when it comes to elite businesses in the province, at least R200 million is owed.
In an attempt to recuperate at least R1 billion owed to the municipality, they have launched a collection drive whereby the executive mayor, Kagisho Sonyoni, together with his team, will be disconnecting the defaulting customers. The municipality has been able to recuperate almost R3 million after leaving a few departments without power on Monday. These include the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, the Department of Public Works - which allegedly owes the municipality almost R14 million - the Department of Education, and the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.
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Riet further explains that defaulting customers have also contributed to the lack of service delivery to the residents of the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
The collection drive for government departments and big businesses started on Monday 8 August and will continue until Friday 12 August. From Monday 15 August they will move into disconnecting defaulting households around the area of the municipality. She states through this drive they are trying to address the culture of non-payment. They are trying to encourage households to come forth when they are not in a position to make payments in order to set up a payment plan so that there is no disconnection of services.
Government departments and businesses are encouraged to pay the money owed in order for the municipality to render services and the necessary infrastructure that it’s responsible for.
A statement from the mayor’s communication officer, Keobakile Musunse, explains that the municipality will not stop with the drive until customers start to pay for the services that have been rendered.
Sonyoni will be joined by members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC), and the Municipal Manager, Thapelo Matlala, on Wednesday 10 August’s journey to disconnect the electricity of businesses and government departments whose municipal accounts are in arrears. “The municipality would like to encourage customers whose accounts are in arrears to pay their accounts in full and on time, and if they can’t afford it, they should contact customer care to make a payment arrangement to avoid the discontinuation of services.”
