The Drakenstein Municipality (DM) experienced a tumultuous week following the digital devastation unleashed on their systems last Wednesday night.
“The Municipality can assure our stakeholders that all our ICT risk management and back-up systems and measurements are in place. Cyber attacks unfortunately do occur from time to time,” their initial statement since the attack, reads.
The Head of Marketing and Communications at DM, Riana Geldenhuys, provided Paarl Post with the latest information.
“Our toll-free number is available and functional, as well as our customer care email address. Most of Drakenstein Municipality’s systems have recovered and are in working condition,” she confirmed on Wednesday.
They ensured that progress was being made with safely restoring its systems.
“The Municipality’s ICT team is ensuring that all servers, drives as well as staffs’ computer equipment are secure and virus free before restoring retrieved data. This is done with great caution and thoroughness to prevent any possible further contamination.”
Electricity purchases
Members of the public complained on the Municipality’s social media in response to their cyber attack updates. Many users suffered issues related to purchases of “insufficient power units”, that did not match the amounts paid.
Cindy Lategan, Acting Chief Financial Officer at Drakenstein Municipality, told Paarl Post that the pre-paid electricity system was not affected by the cyber attack at all.
“The consumers who obtained fewer units when purchasing electricity are consumers who are in arrears with their municipal accounts and are dealt with in terms of Drakenstein Municipality’s credit control and debt collection policy and by-laws.
“These policy and by-laws allow for the Municipality to use a portion of the electricity purchases to service the debt of consumers who are in arrears.”
She said only consumers who were subjected to the credit control process on Wednesday (10 August), were unblocked as the Municipality could not service them after the cyber attack, due to the inaccessibility of the municipal network.
How to contact municipal services
Members of the public can contact the Municipality on its toll-free number, 080 131 3553, or on email at customercare@drakenstein.gov.za. They can also register non-emergency service requests via the SeeClickFix app, or contact their ward councillors (www.drakenstein.gov.za/about-us/political-leadership/contact-a-councillor).
Emergency numbers:
Fires – 021 872 2323
Law Enforcement – 021 807 8508
Water pipe bursts – 021 807 4715
