The City of Tshwane has extended its Black Friday campaign, offering a 100% discount on interest charges for residents who settle their outstanding municipal account debts by December 31.
On Friday, the City published that the campaign would run throughout the festive season, encouraging residents to pay off their debts and avoid additional interest charges.
“Settle your outstanding municipal accounts on or before December 31 and get 100% of your interest charges written off,” said the City.
If you enter into a settlement arrangement of up to 24 months, you qualify to get 50% of your interest charges written off, subject to a negotiable down payment.
“To increase the interest write off you must adhere to the settlement without default for a period of three consecutive months to qualify for an additional 5% to 20% write-off,” the City said.
However, it's essential to note that those likely to default on payments during the settlement arrangement, all previously written-off interest charges will be reinstated.
MMC for Finance, Eugene Modise recently shed light on the City’s debtors’ book, saying as of 31 October 2024 the municipality has a total debt of R27 833 billion, of which R26 029bn is owed for more than 30 days.
“The total number of customer accounts is 825 200 and accounts with amounts in arrears total 478 871,” he said.
The City, he said, is mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 to provide services to communities in a sustainable manner, which requires, among other things, that customers settle their municipal accounts in full by the due date.
Modise said: “However, non-payment for municipal services in a prompt manner compels the City to levy interest on overdue accounts.”
He explained that interest levied on overdue accounts is part of the City’s credit control and debt collection measure as provided for in Section 97(1)(e) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) (as amended).
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