The City of Johannesburg has intensified its efforts to recover millions owed in unpaid water and electricity bills, targeting both businesses and residential complexes in a sweeping revenue collection campaign.
The initiative, announced as part of Executive Mayor’s Revenue Collection Drive during the recent State of the City Address, will see officials disconnecting services to defaulting customers. The move aims to bolster municipal finances and ensure compliance from those who have long evaded payment.
“We can no longer afford to carry the burden of non-paying customers while the majority of residents and businesses fulfill their obligations,” said a city representative. “This campaign is about fairness and ensuring that the city can continue delivering essential services.”
The crackdown comes as Johannesburg grapples with financial strain exacerbated by widespread non-payment. While some residents argue that billing inaccuracies and poor service delivery contribute to the problem, the city insists that chronic defaulters must be held accountable.
Affected customers will receive notices before disconnections, with the city urging them to settle arrears or enter payment arrangements. Legal action may follow for those who refuse to comply.
The campaign has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising the city for enforcing accountability, while others warn that abrupt disconnections could harm vulnerable households and small businesses.
As the Revenue Collection Drive unfolds, the City of Johannesburg remains firm: pay up or face the consequences.
