EFFORTS to recover more than R16 million owed to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality by business accounts in the metro, led to the recent disconnection of power to 11 business premises when Budget and Treasury officials raided culprits in Mill Park, Central and Walmer, among other areas.
The premises that were raided included student and rental accommodations, petrol stations, a golf club and a church, among other premises.
Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Retief Odendaal, who oversees the Budget and Treasury directorate, said that the continuous effort to recover revenue is to ensure the financial sustainability of the municipality so that it can deliver on its mandate to deliver services.
“The culprits that are guilty of not paying their services include the small, medium and large businesses, including industrial services.
“There have been positive results from these raids and customers have actually made payments,” he said.
The mayor added that officials had been challenged with denial of access in some premises, with cases of tampering found in some.
“It is illegal to deny the city access to its property. The service agreement signed by the customers with us states that they will provide access to municipal meters when required by municipal officials, but we have noted with concern the denial of access in some premises.
“We want to urge customers to come forward to settle their accounts or make arrangements to settle the accounts before even more disconnections are implemented,” he added.
He also thanked the paying customers and said that they were playing a critical role in the financial sustainability of the municipality.
The municipality has warned that officials will carry out the operations for the rest of this week and visit other owing businesses and domestic areas and deliver disconnection notices.
– ISSUED BY THE NELSON MANDELA BAY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
