SA municipalities owed R181.3bn

SA’s municipalities were owed R181.3bn by consumers on March 31, according to Treasury, but not all this money is realistically collectible. Local government data released on Thursday, covering the third quarter of the 2019/2020 municipal financial year, showed households were the largest contributors to this debt at 70.5%, while government arrears made up 10.3%. The outstanding amounts include historic debt older than 90 days as well as interest on arrears and other recoveries. If consumer debt is limited to below 90 days, the collectible amount is estimated at R30.4bn.