Pretoria - Non-payment of municipal bills will not be tolerated by the City of Tshwane – even if it means crippling its own departments and some essential services.
The Sammy Marks Square, located near the intersection of Madiba and Lillian Ngoyi streets, and home to various municipal divisions, was without electricity for hours after it was disconnected due to an unpaid bill.
Electricity supply to the only remaining neo-Dutch architectural building in Gauteng was disconnected late on Monday and eventually restored on Tuesday after the owners of the centre settled the outstanding bill.
According to the City of Tshwane, the account for the Redefine Properties-owned centre was in arrears of about R2.8 million accumulated over three months.
Upon disconnection of electricity, the landlord approached the City of Tshwane office at the BKS Building in Pretorius Street with proof of payment of R3.4m, the city’s Lindela Mashigo said.
Reconnection instruction was given immediately and implemented just after 10am, Mashigo told the Pretoria News.
Cara White, of Redefine Properties, said the reason for the disconnection was that the landlord queried the most recent bill received from the municipality and lodged a dispute as the amount owing was incorrect.
But without any prior notice and with dispute unresolved, the City of Tshwane switched off the electricity, White said.
“Our tenants, suppliers and shoppers are our top priority, and therefore the amount was paid without delay.
“The dispute still stands and we are waiting for further communication from the City of Tshwane in this regard,” she stated.
However, municipal spokesman Selby Bokaba said it was incorrect to suggest that the city received any correspondence regarding the Sammy Marks Square account.
Bokaba said the city only learnt about the alleged dispute in a meeting after the electricity was disconnected. “We have not received anything in writing pointing to the dispute of their bill.
“If the landlord had a dispute, the correct way of dealing with it was for them to pay at least R1m upfront and then lodge a dispute. That never happened. They simply kept quiet and did not make any payment,” he said.
Bokaba said the action taken was not without a notice, as all customers knew the status in respect of their accounts.
“What we did should serve as a warning to others who owe us that we will not hesitate to disconnect electricity supply if bills are not paid on time,” he added.
Sammy Marks Square is part of the integrated development that includes public and private sector amenities and is seen as a “people’s place” and an identifiable physical landmark in the heart of capital.
The centre is home to the sport and recreational services department, under the political leadership of MMC Nozipho Tyobeka-Makeke.
The office of ANC senior official and chief whip of council Jabu Mabona is also based in the centre.
The caucus of the official opposition DA is also based in the building, as well as those councillors of political parties such as Cope, African People's Convention, Azapo, African Christian Democratic Party, PAC and the FF Plus.
Pretoria News