Durban – The Msunduzi Municipality, which has been on a drive to recoup debt owed for rates and services, has now turned its attention to residents in arrears.
Acting city manager Nelisiwe Ngcobo said on Thursday the municipality had started disconnecting residents whose accounts were in arrears.
For the past three weeks, the municipality has been concentrating on disconnecting businesses and government departments that were in arrears for property rates. It also said it had discovered that many were stealing water and electricity.
Some debts, the municipality said, had accumulated over years and many of those targeted had ignored demands for payment.
Schools, buildings housing government departments and businesses are among those that have been disconnected so far with millions for rand collected as a result.
Ngcobo warned residents would come under scrutiny next.
She urged residents to get their accounts in order.
“We have started with the disconnections in residential areas and we have teams in place that will be going to the different areas and townships,” she said.
At least one property that appeared to be a home with an outstanding rates bill of R500 000 was disconnected, the city said on its Facebook page.
In response, residents said on the Facebook page they welcomed the action being taken.