The DA has received complaints from Mohokare Local Municipality residents who are receiving letters of demand from a debt collection company seeking payments for unpaid municipal accounts. However, according to many residents, their municipal accounts are up to date.
This is because recurring billing issues and poor communication from the municipality have also added to the problem, with the accounts department often being difficult to reach.
Most account issues arise from the municipalities’ failure to send out regular accounts, incorrect water meter readings, and delays in payment capture. Residents are reluctant to sign debt orders with the council and instead continue to pay a nominal fee and wait for an account to arrive.
The installation of prepaid water meters three years ago was meant to solve the problem of incorrect readings and enable residents to manage their consumption effectively. However, suppliers repossessed the remaining meters due to non-payment before Smithfield could be connected. To date, only Rouxville and Zastron have connected meters, while Smithfield residents continue to suffer from inaccurate water bills.
When residents receive bills from the municipality, they often reflect non-payment and arrears, even when they have already paid. The accounts department acknowledges that payments have not been captured yet and fails to rectify the issue.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that the CFO comes to Smithfield to meet with residents and rectify their problems face-to-face. Furthermore, the DA insists that MPAC investigate wasteful expenditure on outsourcing accounts to collections companies, which target non-arrears-paying residents.
It is essential for the municipality to take accountability and responsibility for resolving this issue. The DA urges the municipality to prioritize effective communication, accurate billing, and the installation of prepaid water meters in Smithfield, to provide relief to affected residents.
Issued by Ian Riddle - DA Councillor Mohokare Local Municipality