मैगज़्टर गोल्ड के साथ असीमित हो जाओ
10,000 से अधिक पत्रिकाओं, समाचार पत्रों और प्रीमियम कहानियों तक असीमित पहुंच प्राप्त करें सिर्फ
कोशिश गोल्ड - मुक्त
Data cleanup uncovers massive billing system gaps in parts of Newcastle Municipality
The Mercury
|November 17, 2025
NEWCASTLE municipal manager Zamani Mcineka says the municipality's ongoing debt collection and data-cleansing drive has exposed urgent structural failures in the city's billing system, particularly in townships east of the CBD.
The followup findings come as Newcastle attempts to recover R2.3 billion in unpaid debt, which has left the municipality with a monthly shortfall of more than R40 million.
The Debt Collection and Revenue Enhancement Drive, launched last week in Madadeni and Osizweni, aims to tackle what officials have described as a longstanding "culture of nonpayment" that has severely strained service delivery.
The debt collection drive comes weeks after some Newcastle residents took to the streets to voice their concerns about billing issues.
According to Mcineka, the verification work on the ground has revealed a far deeper problem than anticipated in the area classified as Newcastle East.
"Out of 38 876 households that we were billing, only 5 715 households are paying for their services," he said.
"We have not completed the process. We are still going there today."
यह कहानी The Mercury के November 17, 2025 संस्करण से ली गई है।
हजारों चुनिंदा प्रीमियम कहानियों और 10,000 से अधिक पत्रिकाओं और समाचार पत्रों तक पहुंचने के लिए मैगज़्टर गोल्ड की सदस्यता लें।
क्या आप पहले से ही ग्राहक हैं? साइन इन करें
The Mercury से और कहानियाँ
The Mercury
SA’s crisis: gender-based violence at five times the global average
RAINBOW South Africa experiences some of the world’s highest levels of violence against women.
1 min
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
Challenge to eThekwini city manager’s appointment heads to Concourt
AN ETHEKWINI Municipality employee, who challenged the appointment of eThekwini municipal manager Musa Mbhele on the basis of alleged irregularities in the hiring process, is seeking leave to appeal in the Constitutional Court after the high court dismissed his case.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
A mother and her baby: A heartwarming reunion
HERE'S a tear-jerker of an account of a mother and her baby. It was a foggy afternoon on the central California coast, according to the Associated Press, when the Marine Mammal Centre got a call: there were distressed cries coming from the frigid waters in Morro Bay.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
Five goals worth pursuing for personal growth
BECOME the most generous person you know.
1 min
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
Water scarcity will be the source of conflict among nations
“WATER, water everywhere...Not a drop to drink!” Ultimately, the final war will be over not religion, or race or ideolo; or land. People will kill one another for water.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
G20 Leaders seal landmark agreements on debt, energy, climate and inclusive growth at Joburg Summit
SOUTH Africa's Presidency of the G20 culminated in a far-reaching set of agreements as world leaders adopted a comprehensive Declaration in Johannesburg over the weekend, marking the first G20 Summit ever held on African soil.
1 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
BHP stunned as Anglo American rejects renewed takeover bid
BHP confirms that it is no longer considering a combination with Anglo and Teck Resources
2 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
Government's proposed school calendar overhaul
THE South African Department of Basic Education has initiated a significant overhaul of the existing school calendar system, aiming to introduce a framework that is applicable to all nine provinces.
1 min
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
NPA names suspects accused of killing principal, clerk at Gauteng school
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has released the names of the two people arrested in connection with the murders of school principal Ruth Nozibele Tabu, 58, and administrative clerk Nobantu Njombini, 55, who were shot dead at Inxiweni Primary School's administration block last week.
2 mins
November 25, 2025
The Mercury
KZN prepares for festive season spike in GBV
KWAZULU-NATAL authorities and civil society organisations are preparing for an anticipated rise in gender-based violence (GBV) during the festive season, with data and on-the-ground experience pointing to increased risk linked to alcohol abuse, drug use and family stress.
3 mins
November 25, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size