Ekurhuleni’s failed billing applications hitting residents’ pockets

By Ald. Tania Campbell: DA City of Ekurhuleni PR Councillor

Date: 19 February 2025
Release: Immediate

Residents in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) have been left frustrated and hopeless as the various user-based applications for loading water and electricity meter reading are non-functionable.

Every month, when the billing cycle begins and readings are to be uploaded, neither the My Ekurhuleni App nor the Siyakhokha website work.

As a result, residents are hit with outlandish and unreasonable interim bills that are unaffordable.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned about this monthly trend.

It is not unreasonable to believe that user applications go offline deliberately and that the current ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition is using interim billing to float revenue into the City.

On multiple occasions, Councillors have reported this matter to MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Ald. Sivuyile Ngodwana, Finance MMC, Ald. Jongizizwe Dlabathi, as well as Executive Mayor, Ald. Nkosindiphile Xhakaza as well as raising the matter in the Finance Oversight Committee, yet our concerns fall on deaf ears.

The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department has one of the biggest non-service delivery budgets in the city (an estimated R2 billion on the draft adjusted budget), yet cannot render functional services.

There are many pensioners, poor communities and residents hard hit by growing inflation that cannot afford to pay these exorbitant interim billing accounts.

It is evident that this failed coalition does not care about our people.

The DA will not tolerate the blatant abuse of our residents by this doomsday coalition.

I will write to Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, requesting his urgent intervention.

Media enquires:

Ald. Tania Campbell
DA City of Ekurhuleni PR Councillor
083 360 1957