IN CONVERSATION WITH CLLR STEVEN NKONYENI, FINANCE WHIP (ACTION SA)
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ActionSA in Johannesburg has raised serious concerns following revelations
that municipal officials and councillors owe the City of Johannesburg
approximately R165.7 million in unpaid municipal accounts.
11:30
The party argues that this is not just a financial issue — but a crisis of
credibility, ethics and leadership. It says councillors and officials cannot
demand payment compliance from residents while some of them allegedly
have municipal accounts that have been in arrears for more than three months.
This comes at a time when Johannesburg is under increasing strain:
The city is widely reported to be cash-strapped
Service delivery is under pressure, including water, electricity, road
maintenance, and waste removal
The municipality is increasingly reliant on loans and external funding
to sustain basic operations
Residents continue to report frustrations with a billing crisis, including
disputed accounts, incorrect charges, and inconsistent enforcement
ActionSA’s key argument is that ethical standards for public representatives
must be higher, not equal to the standards expected of ordinary residents.
The party is calling for a debt recovery approach that is:
Firm and consistent
Transparent across all categories of debtors
Fair to residents with legitimate billing disputes
Strong enough to restore public confidence that no one is above
accountability
The story also opens a wider debate about:
Whether officials with arrears should face disciplinary action
How the City balances enforcement with its ongoing billing system
disputes
Whether this affects public trust in municipal leadership at a time
when residents are being urged to pay for services that are often unreliable
that municipal officials and councillors owe the City of Johannesburg
approximately R165.7 million in unpaid municipal accounts.
11:30
The party argues that this is not just a financial issue — but a crisis of
credibility, ethics and leadership. It says councillors and officials cannot
demand payment compliance from residents while some of them allegedly
have municipal accounts that have been in arrears for more than three months.
This comes at a time when Johannesburg is under increasing strain:
The city is widely reported to be cash-strapped
Service delivery is under pressure, including water, electricity, road
maintenance, and waste removal
The municipality is increasingly reliant on loans and external funding
to sustain basic operations
Residents continue to report frustrations with a billing crisis, including
disputed accounts, incorrect charges, and inconsistent enforcement
ActionSA’s key argument is that ethical standards for public representatives
must be higher, not equal to the standards expected of ordinary residents.
The party is calling for a debt recovery approach that is:
Firm and consistent
Transparent across all categories of debtors
Fair to residents with legitimate billing disputes
Strong enough to restore public confidence that no one is above
accountability
The story also opens a wider debate about:
Whether officials with arrears should face disciplinary action
How the City balances enforcement with its ongoing billing system
disputes
Whether this affects public trust in municipal leadership at a time
when residents are being urged to pay for services that are often unreliable
