By Doreen Mokgolo
The City of Ekurhuleni is stepping up efforts to get township residents to pay their overdue rates and services bills by offering them a three-year payment plan to pay off their debts.
To help residents, the city is offering a three-year payment plan to help them settle their debts.
MMC of Finance Jongizizwe Dlabathi has started a campaign encouraging people to settle their outstanding bills. The metro is owed R20-billion in unpaid rates and services.
More than 80% of township residents either aren’t paying their rates and service bills or are illegally connected to municipal services.
This has caused the city financial problems, making it difficult to pay contractors and leading to cuts in services like waste collection.
Most unpaid bills are for water, sanitation, waste collection, and property rates.
At a community meeting in Kwa-Thema on Friday, Dlabathi expressed concern about the many people not paying their municipal bills.
He explained that the metro needs these payments to cover its R2.7-billion monthly payments to Eskom and Rand Water.
Dlabathi said that services will continue if people commit to paying even a little towards their debts. However, if they don’t, the city may stop services.
He also encouraged people with illegal connections to come forward and have them removed without any penalties.
Pensioners and low-income residents were also urged to register for help through the programme.
“We need everyone to pay what they can so we can keep providing services,” Dlabathi added.
Pictured above: MMC of Finance Jongizizwe Dlabathi.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
