The Msunduzi Municipality has extended the amnesty period for those who have tampered with water and electricity meters to avoid paying for these services.
Those who have engaged in this and want to rectify this situation have until January next year to present themselves to the municipality.
“Following the successful implementation of the tampering amnesty campaign which ended in May, the council approved the extension of the programme until the end of January 2025,” said Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla.
He continued, “The programme is for residents and business owners guilty of electricity and/or water theft to apply for amnesty to be exempted from prosecution and fines under certain conditions.”
Thebolla said the amnesty period aims to assist residents and business owners who are guilty of:
- Illegally connecting to the electricity and water network and benefiting from these services without being measured and paying for consumption.
- Tampering with an electricity and/or water meter, resulting in the measuring of incorrect or lower consumption.
- Illegally reconnecting an electricity and/or water meter after a credit control disconnection.
- Paying a bribe to remove an outstanding amount on an account or paying a bribe to illegally open a new municipal account without following the official process.
- Paying a bribe to have an electricity and/or water meter bypassed to record incorrect or lower consumption.
“It is important to mention that the programme only accommodates residential customers, businesses, and non-governmental organisations. Government departments and state-owned entities are excluded,” he said.
The Mercury