Tebogo Moraka, Group Financial Officer of the City of Johannesburg, says lawlessness and any deliberate action endangering their lives of officials will not be tolerated.
“We will ultimately be forced to consider the complete disconnection of electricity supply to these problematic areas.”
“Officials often get attacked, threatened, robbed, obstructed, or simply refused access to electricity and water meters when attempting to read these meters or effecting disconnections at properties that are illegally connected to municipal services.”
About 2605 customers who collectively owe the City more than R464.5 million for water services in September 2023, are in communities which are classified as problematic areas, where the City has no access.
A further 323 customers, who owe the City more than R46.6 million for water services, either intimidated or refused the Johannesburg Water Meter Readers access to those meters.
Moraka says the City is losing billions of rands from illegal connections and reconnections of electricity and water services.