3 January 2005 Press Release Pay your water and electricity account Residents in the City of Johannesburg whose rates and taxes and electricity and water accounts are in arrears will be getting final letters of demand as early as January. According to Mandy Jean Woods, Director: Marketing and Communications for the Department of Revenue, " We will be vigorously pursuing business and communities to recover outstanding debt". Woods said, "The purpose of the final letter of demand is twofold, firstly to get defaulters to pay or make arrangements to pay arrears and secondly if the account is in dispute, log a query with our call centre and get a reference number so that the account can be verified". The Revenue Department will be systematically focusing on specific areas throughout the City commencing in the East with: Lorentzville, New Doornfontein, Northview, Observatory, Parktown Randview, Rietfontein, Saxonwold and Ext 1-5, Spes Bona Syferfontein, Wolhuter, Bedford, Belle-Vue, Bellevue East, Bertrams Bezuidenhout Valley, Braamfontein, Bruma, Charlton Terrace Corlett Gardens, Cyrildene, De Wetshof Ext.1/2, Denver, Doornfontein Fairwood, Forest Town and Extension, Highlands, Houghton Estate Jeppestown, Jeppestown South and Extension, Johannesburg Judith's Paarl, Kensington, Linksfield and Ext 1-5, Linksfield North Linksfield North Ext 1, Linksfield Ridge and Ext 1 "In terms of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, municipalities are legally obliged to collect monies for services rendered and it is the civic duty of each resident to pay for services in full", said Woods. It is still incumbent upon residents to pay their average account even if no statement has been received, meters not read or whilst their account is being investigated. Residents are also urged to call Joburg Connect on 375 5555 to update their personal and property details. Woods explained the credit control process as follows, accounts are payable on or before the due date. Three days after the due date, that is also the beginning of a new billing cycle, all overdue accounts go through a filtering process to validate the accuracy of the account. This takes 2 days thereafter a final letter of demand is sent that gives notice to terminate services within 14 days. She warned that this was not an extension of the due date but rather the last opportunity to pay the overdue account. Thereafter services will be terminated and those overdue accounts sent to the Legal Department that will try to persuade defaulters to pay before being handed over to attorneys, to recover the outstanding monies. Accounts can be paid at any Municipal Pay point, Pick 'n Pay, Post Office, ABSA Branch, ATM or online. It must be noted however that payment via third party e.g. Pick 'n Pay, ABSA can take up to five days before the account is credited. "We urge all residents to pay their accounts in full on the due consistently to avoid credit control action", said Mankodi. She added, " We as the Council will endeavour to maintain accuracy in our billing and respond to queries as timeously as possible." 75% of Joburg's income is derived from the payment of rates and taxes and water and electricity. Joburg has acknowledged the challenges it faces in revenue collection but is confident that most of these have been addressed and is determined to collect what is due. "It is important that the City and its residents work together to improve service delivery", said Woods. Ends Virgil James Spokesperson Communications Telephone: (011) 407 7226 Facsimile: (011) 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9415 Email: virgilj@joburg.org.za