Pay up or be cut off - city

State-owned enterprises get away with nonpayment for a long time.

- Hein Kaiser

Pay up or get cut off. The City of Ekurhuleni will not hesitate to cut off services, no matter who or what entity is involved.

Over the past few months, the municipality has placed hundreds of businesses and residences on notice. But some large debtors seem to have got away with nonpayment for extended periods of time.

State-owned entities like Transnet, whose power was cut off last month, owed R14 million. Ten days ago, Denel was left in the dark after failing to keep to a payment arrangement for its R7.8 million in outstanding rates and utility bills.

The two state-owned companies were not alone in disregarding payment.

Former DA Ekurhuleni councillor and now member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Mike Waters said by the end of August, four government departments owed Ekurhuleni more than R137 million.

"This is money that a cash-strapped municipality can use to ensure service delivery.