Durban – The uMgungundlovu District Municipality is embarking on a disconnection campaign to recoup R700 million that is owed by businesses, government departments and residents.
The municipality said from tomorrow (October 21), it would embark on a disconnection campaign.
It is following in the footsteps of the Msunduzi Municipality in Pietermaritzburg. It collected R100 million in one week after going on an aggressive disconnection campaign, cutting services and naming and shaming businesses that were in arrears.
“UMgungundlovu District Municipality is owed R700 million by its debtors,” the municipality said in a statement.
“Whilst the municipality has to pay Umgeni Water on a monthly basis for the bulk water supply to it, the municipality falls short in terms of recovering costs for the supply of water to businesses, government departments/Institutions and households due to non-payment for services.
“From this Friday, October 21st, the municipality is undertaking a campaign to disconnect all businesses and government departments/institutions which are lagging behind with payments of their accounts. Those found to have connected themselves illegally, will have their meters completely removed,” it said.
It said this is the first phase of the campaign before moving to households.
It said the campaign would kick off at uMngeni Municipality in Howick tomorrow, and would be taken to all municipalities under the district.
It said those businesses and government departments or institutions who were in arrears should approach the municipality’s customer care centres to make payment arrangements before tomorrow as no negotiations would be entered into when disconnections were made on the day.