Some contractors, linked to the City of Tshwane’s aggressive revenue-collection campaign called Tshwane Ya Tima, are allegedly bribed not to disconnect power from defaulting customers whose municipal bills are in arrears.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said: “It has come to the city’s attention that there might be unscrupulous employees and/or contractors who go around with the municipality’s marked vehicles allegedly from the revenue collection team soliciting money from customers whose accounts are in arrears and due for disconnection of services.”
The city, he said, was recently informed about a supposedly dishonest contractor who had in his possession actual documentation and a valid job card to carry out the disconnection of services.
The contractor, he said, instead requested a bribe from a customer in order not to cut-off services.
Mashigo said: “Another incident involved a customer whose account was also in arrears, offered cash to a contractor believing that the due payment he/she was making to the contractor was meant for the city’s coffers.”
Customers were cautioned to refrain from making payments to contractors or employees while out to disconnect those whose accounts are in arrears.
“When revenue collection agents are dispatched for disconnection, there isn’t any sort of negotiation or financial transaction that must take place between them and the customers. The agents are also not allowed to collect cash from the customer,” Mashigo said.
He emphasised that customers can only make payments into the municipal account at the nearest City of Tshwane customer care walk-in centre or make a payment arrangement at the municipal offices.
The City recently called out some property owners in Laudium, who are owing more than R2.6 million for reconnecting illegally to the power grid three times, following the disconnections in a space of three weeks.
A fine was issued against owners and a criminal case opened against them for electricity theft and tampering with City infrastructure.
Pretoria News