Tembisa owes R1.6 billion for services, says MMC

This week, protests over electricity disconnections have taken place in Tembisa, which a city official says is in debt to the tune of R1.6-billion.

The MMC for Finance and Strategy in Ekurhuleni, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, says the inability to generate revenue directly impacts the ability to provide sustainable basic services. "And where do we get the money largely for our revenue? It is the money that we must collect from the provision of water, sanitation, energy and waste collection in the main. So where the city is unable to collect, it will find itself wanting in terms of having a budget that is funded and a budget that is capable of delivering sustainable services.

"And in fact, the very same community will then complain to us and say we are not delivering services without answering the question that says: if people don't contribute towards the payment of services, how do you sustain the provision of the same services that they expect?"

He admitted that Tembisa is one of the highest paying areas in terms of municipal accounts for townships.

"In the last quarter, the payment levels in Tembisa were sitting at 72%.

"So, Tembisa does pay, but on the same note, Tembisa does have debts that are due to the city. The consolidated debt amount owed by Tembisa is R1.6-billion."