uMhlathuze recoups R30m in disconnection drive, warns ‘just the start’
uMhlathuze Municipality says it recouped around R30 million on day one of its disconnection drive.
The municipality began a campaign to disconnect services to indebted entities this week.
The city's Nkosenye Zulu say a number of businesses have continuously failed to settle their outstanding bills.
Zulu says the team pulled the plug at uMhlathuze Water in Richard's Bay - which owed the entity about R53 million.
He says the entity's now come forward with a payment plan.
“However, it is encouraging to see uMhlathuze Water has come indeed come forward with a repayment plan, as well negotiation in terms of the balance. I have therefor instructed officials to reconnect uMhlathuze Water Board.”
He says they also disconnected the Department of Education for unpaid debt which's standing at R4 million.
“We then unfortunately continued to Eskom because it owns a few properties which are situated all over uMhlathuze, some of which a consolidated amount of about R400 000. We also continued to two other government departments, which is the Department of Transport as well as the Department of Social Development.
“I want to say this is just the start. All these properties will remain switched off until payments are made.”
