ANC halts council revenue collection drive

THE CITY of Tshwane is owed a staggering R8.6 billion in unpaid rates and taxes, it emerged yesterday.

“At the top of the list is R4.5bn owed by residential customers with business customers in second place, owing R2.28bn.

“A further liability is attributed to the government and inactive customer debts, which stand at R824m and R661m respectively,” said municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.

Unfortunately for the DA-led administration, the launch of a revenue collection campaign could not go ahead after it was disrupted by ANC councillors.

The campaign was the first step towards recouping debts owed to the city.

Part of the campaign would have included door-to-door visits by officials. However, ANC councillors were having none of it.

The officials had just unpacked their material and displayed banners with City of Tshwane logos when they were confronted by ANC councillors who complained of not being consulted about the initiative.

They instructed the officials to pack up and go, and not return until they had been consulted on the initiative.

ANC councillor Joel Masilela said none of the councillors was opposed to the campaign but wanted to be informed about it.

“We have no problem with the campaign taking place here today, but we are saying we’re not aware of it,” he said.

Masilela said he learnt about the amount of money owed to the city from the media.

“The councillors of Mamelodi don’t know of it,” he said.

Masilela added most people failed to pay the city because of the socio-economic challenges they face on a daily basis.

Masilela said incorrect billing and the illegal connections of electricity were among factors contributing to the debts owed to the city.

“We must sit down as councillors and administrators and discuss ways to resolve this for our people, who can’t pay their utility bills,” he said.

Councillors said they were duly elected and represented the masses, and they wanted to be informed about whatever programmes were conducted in their wards.

Mashigo said the revenue collection campaign was informed by the outstanding debt owed to the city.

He said a disconnection of services drive for account holders in arrears was embarked upon by the previous administration in a bid to recover R6.5bn of outstanding debt owed to the city in 2014.