The City of Ekurhuleni has revealed that Ford’s Centre, a complex accommodating about 16 businesses on Dudley Smith Road in Boksburg South, had for years been trying to get away with not paying municipal bills by reputedly reconnecting itself to the power grid after disconnections.
Despite the centre management's claims that they were not aware the facility had not been paying for municipal bills, the metro had disconnected power to the property at least five times since April 2022 because the property’s account remained in arrears. “On January 17, the client’s daughter-in-law promised to pay R200 000, but she failed to honour that promise.
“In this, communication was sent to the energy department to send their team to issue a fine and remove the meter for tampering.' “However, in February 2023, the city disconnected the power supply as the client was at the time owing over R95 000. They never came to arrange or make a payment. Instead, they reconnected themselves.