By Karabo Rammutla
Just last week passengers using Tshwane Bus Services were left stranded because there was no fuel for buses, as the service provider had not been paid.
Last year, some City of Tshwane staff received their payments late, but the city blamed this on the bank.
And recently power utility Eskom asked the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to intervene in a bid to get the city to pay its debt of more than 1 billion rand; Eskom said Tshwane’s non-payment was worsening its financial crisis.
However, the city’s battles with its finances have not stopped it from shaming and cutting off services to its non-paying clients.
On Thursday mayor Randall Williams led a campaign to cut off defaulting clients, starting in Pretoria West.
The campaign, dubbed #Tshwaneyatima, kicked off last year and targeted big business, government buildings and even embassies.
But in Pretoria West it was the turn of small business.
From hair salons to grocery stores, city officials, led by the mayor, switched off water and electricity to non-paying clients.
Williams said they had found that several illegal connections had been made by businesses and some residents.
“We’ve now disconnected them, and they’ll be slapped with heavy fines. We have zero tolerance for illegal connections. Eskom often makes noise about our bill, so we need our clients to pay for services or we will disconnect them,” he said.
A business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said the city was abusing its power.
“There is a problem with their billing, their pipes are leaking and we’re often charged for leaks which we’re not responsible for. They’re here for the media attention and to humiliate us,” he said.
He said their pleas to negotiate fell on deaf ears.
“They owe Eskom, but they negotiate and Eskom listens to them. Why do they not listen to us? I have tried to negotiate a payment plan but services to my salon were cut off. How will I pay when there’s no income?” he said.
Pictured above: City of Tshwane mayor Randall Williams led a campaign to cut off services to non-paying clients
Image source: Supplied
