Tshwane billing chaos

The Tshwane Metro Council this week adopted a motion allowing for a moratorium on the termination of services whenever a dispute arises between a resident and the municipality concerning a resident’s utility account.

Democratic Alliance Councillor Janho Engelbrecht, who proposed the motion, said it would assist thousands of residents who are being threatened with electricity cut-offs despite making regular payments on their accounts. “The motion places a moratorium on the termination of services supplied by the municipality, provided that the affected resident continues to make minimum payments based on the average municipal account of the three months preceding any dispute with the Municipality.”

Engelbrecht said that a DA investigation had also revealed that the municipality did not have a promulgated Debt Collection policy in place. This is contrary to provisions of the Municipal Systems Act, which requires a municipal council to have both debt collection and credit control policies.

“This amounts to the Municipal authority acting ultra vires in respect of its clients. It is our responsibility to rectify the situation by making sure that officials abide by the law,” Engelbrecht said.

The DA offers its assistance to residents who whish to declare a dispute in terms of their municipal accounts. Residents need to:

Write a letter wherein a dispute with the Municipality relating to outstanding money is declared wherein they should state their name, residential address, municipal account number and a contact number.
The nature and extent of the dispute should be stated clearly.
Residents should also calculate the average of the previous three months’ accounts received, which must be paid to the Municipality every month until the dispute is resolved.
This signed letter should be faxed to the DA caucus offices in Munitoria (fax number 012 358 7808) and marked for the attention of the Municipal Manager. Residents will receive written confirmation that their letters have been received.