The City of Johannesburg's aggressive cut-off operation on worst defaulters has led to the correctional services department paying R13m in municipal bills for two of its prisons at the weekend.
The city's CFO Tebogo Moraka said on Monday the department paid the full R9.8m debt for Leeuwkop prison and about R3.2m towards the Johannesburg prison bill on Saturday.
The city shut down water supply at Leeuwkop on Friday over its huge outstanding debt.
Last week, the municipality chased after its 10 worst defaulters — including Leeuwkop, a hotel, large residential estates, a private retirement village and a panel beating business — which collectively owed it more than R104m for services.
Moraka said the management of a posh private retirement village estate in Northview paid R7.7m (30%) of its R25.6m bill. This was after its supply was cut last week.
The estate has since agreed to pay the remainder of the debt over three months.
The city advised property owners struggling to service their accounts for various reasons to approach it for assistance for payment arrangements to avoid disconnection of services.
TimesLIVE
Correctional services pays R13m towards its Gauteng prisons water debt
Image: 123RF/Weerapat Kiatdumrong
The City of Johannesburg's aggressive cut-off operation on worst defaulters has led to the correctional services department paying R13m in municipal bills for two of its prisons at the weekend.
The city's CFO Tebogo Moraka said on Monday the department paid the full R9.8m debt for Leeuwkop prison and about R3.2m towards the Johannesburg prison bill on Saturday.
The city shut down water supply at Leeuwkop on Friday over its huge outstanding debt.
Last week, the municipality chased after its 10 worst defaulters — including Leeuwkop, a hotel, large residential estates, a private retirement village and a panel beating business — which collectively owed it more than R104m for services.
Moraka said the management of a posh private retirement village estate in Northview paid R7.7m (30%) of its R25.6m bill. This was after its supply was cut last week.
The estate has since agreed to pay the remainder of the debt over three months.
The city advised property owners struggling to service their accounts for various reasons to approach it for assistance for payment arrangements to avoid disconnection of services.
TimesLIVE
MORE:
Leeuwkop prison’s water supply restored after settling R9.8m bill
Joburg shuts water supply to Leeuwkop prison, among other credit control measures
Worldwide interest in Joburg CBD explosion from cities, engineers
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos