April 25, 2005, 15:30
The Matjhabeng municipality, the largest in the Free State Gold Fields, is owed R640 million for lights and water and began disconnections today. Disconnecting electricity and water to homes and businesses in six towns was an effort to recover the money owed, the municipality said. "The municipality is in its budgeting process for 2005/06 and recovering the outstanding revenue will impact positively on service delivery," Serake Leeuw, the mayor of the area, said.
Leeuw said the municipality was committed to deliver services according to its mandate, but this had become increasingly difficult because of outstanding debt. "Roads cannot be repaired or build, water pipes cannot be fixed or replaced, grass cannot be cut and infrastructure cannot be developed if there is no money available."
A team of "political custodians" (all mayoral committee members) has been appointed to run the latest debt collecting push and report back to the mayor on progress made.
The defaulters targeted by the municipality's new credit management system are consumers in arrears without prior arrangement for payment, or those who have not honoured a prior arrangement. The possibility that the municipality's latest drive might affect hundreds of indigent households had been foreseen. "The municipality has made special arrangements at all municipal offices to help those that qualify for free basic services," Leeuw said.
The Matjhabeng municipality serves Welkom, Virginia, Hennenman Odendaalsrus, Allanridge and Ventersburg. The municipality recently completed an audit of its database of consumers. - Sapa
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