Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality is pressing ahead with its smart-meter rollout while sending a firm message to residents: those who can afford municipal services must pay their bills, while households genuinely struggling financially should register for indigent support.
The latest phase of electricity meter installations is under way in Harrismith, covering Tshiame A, Tshiame B, Tshiame C and Makgolokoeng, in collaboration with Eskom. Once the Harrismith phase is complete, the programme will move to QwaQwa.
The municipality says the initiative goes beyond installing modern meters. It is intended to improve billing accuracy, strengthen revenue collection and promote accountability in the consumption and payment of municipal services.
Council Speaker, Mandlenkosi Dlamini said residents who could afford to pay had a responsibility to settle their municipal accounts to help the municipality maintain infrastructure and provide sustainable services.
“A culture of user-pay in Maluti-A-Phofung must become the norm. Gone are the days of robbing the municipality of the revenue it needs to provide sustainable services to our communities,” said Dlamini.
He urged residents to recognise that paying for services was essential to keeping the municipality financially capable of meeting community needs.
“Every household that pays for the services it consumes contributes towards the municipality’s ability to maintain infrastructure, improve revenue collection and deliver sustainable services,” he added.
However, while calling for greater payment discipline, the municipality acknowledged that some households cannot afford municipal services.
Residents who meet the qualifying criteria are encouraged to register as indigent households to access available assistance and free basic services.
Dlamini said the approach should distinguish between residents who can pay but fail to do so and those who genuinely need financial relief.
“If a household can afford its monthly DStv subscription, it should also make every effort to pay for the municipal services it consumes. We must build a culture where those who can pay, pay and those who genuinely cannot afford to pay are properly registered and supported through the indigent programme,” he said.
Dlamini’s message is that smart meters, accurate billing and responsible payment must go hand in hand if the rollout is to support more sustainable service delivery.
Residents are urged to cooperate with municipal officials and Eskom teams during installations and to ensure that their household circumstances are properly recorded.
The municipality says improved revenue collection, alongside support for qualifying indigent households, is central to its efforts to maintain infrastructure and deliver reliable services across Maluti-A-Phofung.
