City of Johannesburg cracked down on a water and electricity theft of a business owner. Image-pexels.com/Annas Zakaria
City of Johannesburg cracks down on water and electricity thief, disconnects Leeuwkop prison
As a component of a sting operation against businesses with unauthorised connections, authorities targeted an establishment indebted over R6.4 million for services.
City of Johannesburg cracked down on a water and electricity theft of a business owner. Image-pexels.com/Annas Zakaria
On Friday, 11 August 2023, the City of Johannesburg took stronger action on Credit Control by arresting a business-owner who illegally tapped into water and electricity.
Additionally, they cut off water supply to Leeuwkop Prison for owing nearly R10 million according to Arrive Alive.
Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers apprehended a Roodepoort glass-making business owner this afternoon at his Stormhill business location.
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THE BUSINESS OWES CITY OF JOHANNESBURG OVER 6.4 MILLION
As a component of a sting operation against businesses with unauthorised connections, authorities targeted an establishment indebted over R6.4 million for services.
City Manager Floyd Brink spearheaded the comprehensive Credit Control initiative, involving City Power, Joburg Water, Revenue Department, and JMPD citywide.
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Persistent illegal connections, tampering, or vandalism of vital infrastructure will result in arrests, the City cautioned.
CITY OWED CLOSE TO 47 BILLION
The City’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Tebogo Moraka said the City’s current debtor’s book is sitting a close to R47 billion, for rates and taxes, sewer, electricity and water, which unsustainable.
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“The Credit Control operation today is just a start of one of many more operations to come.
The City of Johannesburg is aggressively pursuing those customers who owe us and are not coming forward to settle their growing debt.
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The city of Johannesburg is also looking for customers to come forward to sign the Acknowledgment of debt (AOD) and plead their case.
“We have no choice but to switch off our services to those not coming forward to pay their arrear debt,” said Moraka.
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