Gwamanda urges Joburg councillors to lead by example and pay municipal bills

JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda urged councillors to lead by example and settle their municipal rates and taxes.

It's emerged that councillors owe the municipality a staggering R2.7 million.

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Speaking during his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Thursday, Gwamanda said that defaulting residents and businesses were straining the city’s finances.

Gwamanda said it was unfair for councillors to complain about poor revenue collection while their own accounts were in arrears.

“Fellow councillors, we cannot criticise and complain about services in the city and also be the first to default on our payments.”

Recent media reports have alleged that DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku was one of the councillors who defaulted on their electricity payments.

But Kayser-Echeozonjoku, who said she was not indebted to Johannesburg City Power, said she believed Gwamanda was trying to settle political scores.

“Of course, he was sending a subliminal message to me, but let me just clarify that I don’t owe City Power. All my meters are on prepaid, and we buy electricity.”

She, however, said she welcomed the mayor’s attempts to call councillors to account for their non-compliance.