By: Zethu Gweva
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is re-implementing the credit control policy which will result in the blocking electricity for consumers with accounts that are in arrears.
According to BCM Spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya, residents and business with bills in arrears will have electricity supply blocked until they clear their debt.
“Consumers who have prior arrangements with the municipality will have to make new arrangements which must comply with the new approved credit control and debt collection policy,” he said.
He added that consumers who are in financial constraint whose total gross household income is equal or less than R3 760.00 may apply for an indigent subsidy.
“This means a purchase of R100 electricity will result in an R60 electricity token being taken, with the remaining R40 being receipted to the account arrears,” he said.
A 14-day pre-termination notice alerting consumers in arrears to visit the nearest municipal office to make the necessary payment arrangements in terms of the Credit Control Policy before any disconnections will be implemented.
A resident from Mdantsane Lukhona Vili said this will affect residents negatively, as some lost their jobs and will have to spend their December in the dark because they have no money to pay for electricity bills.
Vili added that people are complaining about the municipality billing system but continue to owe R500 this week and the next it is R20 000 without any proper explanation.
“How are we going to pay for something we don’t understand. It is still lockdown due to COVID-19, businesses are suffering, people are losing their jobs,” he said.
According to Ngwenya, the municipality is about to introduce a ‘Customer Bonanza’ in the form of a debt incentive scheme which will give consumers an opportunity to settle their debts with different options that have huge discounts.
“This will be announced in the coming weeks and we are optimistic that people of our city will welcome and take advantage of this. We are not going to meet halfway but will give up to 80 per cent assistance in ensuring that all accounts are up to date,” said Ngwenya.