Govt depts owe R841m for electricity

Eight Gauteng government departments collectively owe City Power more than R841 million after consistent non-payment, the utility said yesterday.

The shocking figure emerged during the City of Joburg’s Operation Buya Mthetho programme intensification, with mayor Mpho Phalatse vowing to “aggressively” collect monies owed to the city by government at all levels, as well as residents and businesses.

Phalatse said she had made the departments aware of the “millions of much-needed rands they owe to the City of Joburg, noting that if they fail to pay, we will cut them off”.

She added: “As we speak, as part of Operation Buya Mthetho, officials from City Power and Joburg Water are cutting off the services of 10 of the worst offenders in Region F (including the inner city).

Phalatse said the Gauteng department of health owed the most money to the city.

Michael Sun, City of Joburg environment infrastructure service department MMC, said government, residents and businesses owed R14 billion to Joburg Water and R7.3 billion to City Power.

Large power users collectively owe R4 billion, with two government departments owing a combined sum of R170 million.

“Non-payment of services create problems as it takes money that should be used for other services. We also have to buy electricity and water.

“We also need to cut down on non-technical losses. We’re already winning the fight against cable theft,” Sun added.

According to City Power, eight Gauteng government departments collectively owe R841 441 411. (However, The Citizen’s amateur number-crunching saw the total come to R843 447 499.)

Here are the worst offenders:

Gauteng department of health (owes R383 million)

Gauteng department of infrastructure and development (R235.4 million)

Gauteng department of human settlements ( R138.7 million)

Gauteng department of education – Section 21 (R46.1 million

Gauteng department of education – Section 20 (R31.7 million

Gauteng department of rural development (R3.9 million)

Gauteng department of transport (R3.2 million)

Gauteng department of finance (R541 290)

Gauteng department of social development (R526 895)

Sun said the city was doing its part in ensuring infrastructure was in order, especially that water and electricity meters were working properly.

“We are going to actively go to customers so that we also educate and ensure their concerns with our infrastructure are addressed,” he said.