The City of Tshwane has demonstrated their hardline stance on unpaid bills after the electricity supply to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) headquarters in Pretoria was abruptly cut off. The reason? Unsettled electricity bills totalling a hefty R838,000.
According to Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba, the electricity supply to the high-rise building was cut on the morning of 16 April. These actions form part of the city’s ‘Tshwane Ya Tima’ revenue-collection programme, which aims to recover billions of rands owed to the city in electricity debt.
SARS quickly reacted and settled its outstanding electricity debt. In a statement released by the City of Tshwane, they stated, “We can confirm that Sars has settled their account in full this afternoon and power supply has subsequently been restored… Thank you Sars. Payment received, and reconnection done.”
SARS is not the first entity to have been left in the dark due to outstanding fees. In June 2023, state-owned power utility Eskom threatened to take the City of Tshwane to court in June 2023 over unpaid bills amounting to R1.9 billion.
The impact of Tshwane’s revenue-collection efforts is being felt far and wide, with businesses, government departments, and residential properties alike facing the consequences of unpaid bills.
Since ‘Tshwane Ya Tima’ has been initiated, residential complexes such as the Blyde and Phoenix View Estate have had their power cut, with the latter owing R25 million in unpaid bills.
According to Jacqui Uys, Tshwane’s MMC for finance, the ‘Tshwane Ya Tima’ revenue-collection programme isn’t just about disconnecting services; it’s a comprehensive strategy that encompasses fines for meter tampering and illegal connections.
All debtors within the City of Tshwane receive equal treatment; if there’s non-payment, credit control measures are implemented, stated Uys, who highlighted that customers receive prior notice before any power disconnection occurs.
“Failure to acknowledge [the notice] or pay, then the city will be obliged to cut [customers] off,” said Uys.
Tshwane’s recent power cut to the SARS headquarters highlights the city’s commitment to tackling unpaid bills through initiatives like ‘Tshwane Ya Tima’. However, City Power is not stopping in Tshwane. Several businesses in Johannesburg also experienced power cuts on 1 March due to unpaid bills amounting to R52 million.
