25 February 2005 Press Release ROLL OUT OF CREDIT CONTROL STRATEGY IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS AS CITY OF JOBURG PURSUES DEFAULTING DEBTORS. The City of Johannesburg's Department of Revenue continues implementing its credit control strategy, which includes bringing accounts up to date by taking action against defaulting debtors. According to the department's spokesperson Mandy Jean Woods, Final Letters of Demand are to be sent out by the 3rd of March to residents in the southern suburbs of the City. These residents will have 14 days in which to either pay their accounts, enter into a formal repayment programme where the account is in arrears or alternatively to log their query with Joburg Connect, failing which their services will be interrupted or restricted. "More than three quarters of the City's income emanates from water, electricity, rates and taxes levied on residents, and it is important that these monies are collected so that service delivery can continue to grow and improve." The suburbs that will receive the final letters of demand include: Glenanda, Glenvista, Benrose, Naturena, Suideroord, Winchester Hills City and Suburban, Marshall Town, Moffat View, South Hills, Turffontein, Heriotdale, West Turffontein, Ancorville, Crown Gardens, Unaville, Newtown, Selby, Ormonde View. "The City has a fiduciary obligation to collect monies for services rendered, and it is the civic duty of residents to pay for their services in full. The City is and will continue to vigorously pursue defaulters to recover the outstanding debt," says Woods. The City acknowledges the challenges it faces with the accuracy of some of its statements and in resolving queries and accordingly encourages consumers to phone the Call Centre to update information or log queries, which may remain outstanding. "We are addressing these issues in a number of ways, and we remain committed to improving every level of the service we deliver to our residents. We believe that only by working together will it be possible to achieve flawless system," Woods says. ENDS Issued by: Mandy Jean Woods Director: Marketing and Communications Department of Revenue City of Johannesburg Phone: 407 7356 Fax: 403 7738 Cell: 082 553 4211 (Please send sms if urgent) Email: mandyw@joburg.org.za On behalf of: Desiré Borain General Manager: Credit Control Revenue Shared Service Centre City of Johannesburg