The City has been disconnecting services to customers whose accounts have been in arrears for more than three months.Those that owe are mainly from government departments, embassies, businesses and residential customers.
Spokesperson Sipho Stuurman says they are using the courts to try to force the city to reconnect services while they dispute their bills. “While a company may dispute the amount that is charged. This does not place the whole account in abeyance and does not allow for non-payment on the bill, nor does it allow for non-payment in future billing as well. What we have also noticed is that in an effort to maintain the status quo, some of these companies are now filing legal papers in order to try and use the courts to rule in their favour in the interim so that their services may be reconnected.
[MEDIA STATEMENT] City of Tshwane teams preparing comprehensive legal response to companies that are challenging disconnections.
Shame On them. They have money for Lawyers to defend their Stupidity; but they don't have Money to Pay their own Electricity. The entitlement of Some of our People; is appalling.
The companies are imo opportunists that have money for lawyers but cannot pay for services already received. CityTshwane should imo sue for costs on a punitive scale. However, an independent Ombud with the jurisdiction to settle disputes with the City is imo a good idea.
They have money for courts and lawyers but not for municipal debts
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