Joburg ramps up disconnections to state departments over R1.4 billion debt

Staff Reporter

The City of Johannesburg has stepped up its revenue collection drive, saying on Monday that it will carry out more aggressive and frequent service disconnections against government departments and entities that collectively owe about R1.4 billion in unpaid municipal accounts.

On Friday, the city carried out a large-scale disconnection operation in the Johannesburg CBD in partnership with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Group Finance Revenue officials, City Power, and Johannesburg Water, targeting buildings owned by various government departments and entities.

During the operation, the city disconnected water services and removed a water meter at a multi-storey building on Simmonds Street, owned by the Gauteng provincial government’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs department.

The property had accumulated debt of more than R677,000.

The disconnection followed a brief stand-off between private security personnel and the city’s disconnection team, which was supported by JMPD.

A few blocks away on Commissioner