Tshwane Cracks Down on Defaulters in Affluent East Suburbs
The City of Tshwane has taken decisive action against customers with outstanding bills, cutting power to several defaulters in Pretoria East as part of an ongoing effort to recover significant debts owed by some of its largest non-paying clients.
On October 7, Acting Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya led a team of Tshwane technicians and the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) in a targeted operation Tshwane Ya Tima to disconnect electricity at properties where owners had amassed large unpaid service bills. The operation focused on the affluent Waterkloof area, known for its upmarket homes.
The first stop was a house in the Tuscany estate, where the owner owed a substantial R559,855 to the city. Moya and her team disconnected the electricity supply and moved on to other defaulters.
Next, the team proceeded to a property on Rigel Avenue, where the outstanding bill reached an astonishing R1,000,993. Despite previous warnings, the homeowner had failed to settle their account or engage with the city to make any payment arrangements.
Moya highlighted another property on Lawley Street in a gated community within Waterkloof, where the debt had escalated to R2,259,821. She stressed that none of the disconnected clients had reached out to the city to arrange payment plans despite multiple notices.
The city launched its revenue collection campaign in 2021 to address widespread non-payment, focusing on customers with high service bills. Moya emphasized that the affected defaulters had ignored repeated warnings and continued to avoid settling their accounts, with some even resorting to illegal reconnections to restore power.
“We urge residents to pay their bills on time and in full,” Moya stated. “If there are financial challenges, they should approach the city to set up a payment plan rather than continue to accumulate debt.”
The city’s firm stance on defaulters is part of its broader strategy to ensure that all residents contribute to maintaining essential services.
Defaulters can avoid disconnection by taking the following steps:
- Pay Outstanding Bills: Ensure all overdue payments are settled in full to avoid disconnection.
- Make Timely Payments: Pay monthly utility bills on time to prevent accumulating debt.
- Set Up a Payment Arrangement: If unable to pay the full amount, contact the municipality to arrange a manageable payment plan. This shows a willingness to resolve the issue and can prevent immediate disconnection.
- Respond to Notices: Don’t ignore warnings from the city. If you receive a disconnection notice, reach out to the city before the deadline to discuss options.
- Regularly Monitor Bills: Stay on top of billing cycles and amounts owed to avoid surprises and ensure compliance with payment expectations.
- Avoid Illegal Connections: Reconnecting electricity illegally after disconnection can lead to fines, legal issues, and further complications. It’s important to resolve the debt with the city instead of resorting to such measures.
Proactively engaging with the city and communicating financial difficulties can help maintain essential services while addressing the debt in a structured manner.