Residents of the Sol Plaatje Municipality in the Northern Cape have been urged to make meter boxers easily accessible to municipal officials as the municipality will be inspecting meters.

Municipal Manager Thapelo Matlala said this is part of their plans to ensure they go back to basics and be able to deliver services to people. He said this turnaround strategy comes in pursuit of an improved audit opinion and addressing the Auditor-General’s findings around the completeness of billing. The municipality is seeking to improve core revenue processes, systems, data quality, electricity and water infrastructure, amongst other things.

Sol Plaatje workers checking meters. Photo: Screengrab

“Our meter readers will be on the ground, we are working on making sure that by November this year, we no longer have estimates in the municipality or interims. We have the accurate billing from reading the meters. We believe this will go a long way. This is not only applicable to households, this also talks to businesses in the city and also your large power users.”

Matlala said this programme will go a long way in ensuring there’s improvement in the financial situation of the municipality, as they have been losing a lot of revenue. He said anyone who is found to be in contravention of legislation and municipal policies will be served with 14 days’ notice. The municipality will disconnect the supply of electricity to premises that are found to have contravened with legislation or policies of the municipality.

Community members have been given the option to submit photos of their meter readings, subject to municipal officials gaining access every three months. Sol Plaatjie has also urged community members to make sure their water meters are not covered with sand, debris or obstacles, while notices left in post boxes by meter readers must be responded to.

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