Joburg disconnects Leeuwkop prison in collection drive

The City of Johannesburg has arrested one business owner  - who had allegedly illegally connected his business to both water and electricity supply  - and also shut down the water supply at Leeuwkop Prison for owing the City close to R10 million for water.

Spokesperson, Issac Mangana says this is part of their intensified credit control drive, with the City’s current debtor’s book sitting at close to R47 billion for rates and taxes, sewer, electricity, and water. 

"The Roodepoort businessman, who runs a glass-making business, was arrested by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers at his business premise Stormhill," says Mangena. 

"The establishment owes the City more than R6.4 million for water and electricity services," he notes. 

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The City has warned those who continually connect illegally to its water and electricity services, tamper with or vandalise its’s critical infrastructure that they face posisble arrest.

“We are aggressively pursuing those customers who owe us and are not coming forward to settle their growing debt, nor come forward to sign the Acknowledgment of debt (AOD) and plead their case," says Mangna. 

"We have no choice but to switch off our services to those not coming forward to pay their arrear debt."

He notes that, as part of the credit control drive this week, the City cut both water and power to 8 illegally connected meters, and removed all its water meters from a hotel which owes the City in excess of R28 million.