Tswane Ya Tima 1
“Tshwane Ya Tima” aims to recoup R23,3 billion owed by various customers (picture courtesy of Jacques Naude/ Independent Newspapers)
Mathipa Phishego
The Tshwane Municipality is reminding residents and customers to pay their electricity bills. The city recently launched a two-week campaign called “#Tshwane Ya Tima” to check meter boxes, address any issues, and collect outstanding payments from customers who owe the city for electricity.
If anyone is found to be using illegal connections, the municipality will cut off their power supply and impose a heavy fine.
“The campaign began in the Central Business District of the city. The campaigners claimed that the CBD owed the municipality millions. Videos showing Tshwane workers circulated on social media, which demonstrated that they cut off power supply to those who were at fault, but passed the ones whose meter boxes were not tampered with.”
In a video posted on Twitter, Dr Nasiphi Moya, the Deputy Executive Mayor, expressed her disappointment over the act of individuals who tamper with their electricity meter box. She emphasized that clients should not resort to the bridging of electricity as it is a criminal offense and can lead to serious consequences.
The campaign was led by city manager Johann Mettler, MMC for Human Settlements Ofentse Madzabatela, MMC Themba Fosi for Utilities and Regional Operations and Coordination, and MMC for Roads and Transport Katlego Mathebe
The City is aware that some communities threaten their workers, and it’s saying that there is no place called a “no-go area”. Tshwane Ya Tima will disconnect in all corners of the city, irrespective of the volatility of the area, with the help of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department.
“The Executive Mayor is making sure that we get our financial books in order. And to have a new connection in the city to be in such a way that the city would be able to track and control electricity services,” Fosi explains.
Although the city has taken measures to disconnect the power supply to those customers who have outstanding debts, many residents living in Tshwane townships are not intimidated by this action and are refusing to pay. They believe that the cost of electricity is too high and are demanding that their debts be cleared. Despite the serious consequences of having their power supply disconnected, these residents are standing their ground.
One of the Concerned Tshwane Resident leaders, David Tladi, states, “We still keep maintaining the motion of not paying or signing anything to the municipality. Again, we have opened a case against the municipality and keep changing attorneys to drain us financially. We know they won’t be able to pay legal fees as well.”
During the campaign, one of the Municipal Management Committees (MMCs) indirectly supported Tladi’s statement by disclosing the city’s financial situation, which was already under strain. Ofentse expressed gratitude towards residents who had paid their bills and encouraged those who were unable to pay to make arrangements with the city so that its finances could be managed more effectively.
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