The City encourages residents to pay for services because it is the right thing to do. Through the Siyakhokha Siyathuthuka system the city hopes to emphasize the importance of paying for services and the impact of this on service delivery.
Fighting to improve the revenue of the City, the Siyakhokha Siyathuthuka programme led by MMC Ald Jongizizwe Dlabathi is sticking to its mandate of collecting what it is due to the City.
The Siyakhokha Siyathuthuka campaign is a proactive step by the City of Ekurhuleni to address revenue collection and foster a culture of responsible service payment among its customers. By engaging directly with the community and providing convenient payment solutions, the City aims to create a more sustainable and efficient service delivery system.
The City of Ekurhuleni has deployed a total of 65 Siyakhokha brigades to enhance revenue through payment arrangements, submission of meter readings and escalating service queries.
The brigades conduct door-to-door visits to educate residents on the various payment options and urge customers to pay for services.
“The revenue enhancement brigades will not only assist residents to register on the online payment system – www.siyakhokha.ekurhuleni.gov.za, but will also conduct data collection of any information that has changed and needs to be updated on the city’s database and contact list,” said MMC Dlabathi.
The services they offer include:
-Giving information on indigent registration, debt rehabilitation applications, pensioners rebate, and education on payment arrangements that can be done;
-Provide education and awareness on the new water meter reading App.
-Encourage residents to register in the Siyakhokha WhatsApp Business Channel for first-hand interaction with the city; and
Escalating residents’ service delivery queries to the call centre where calls will be logged.
Residents are further advised to contact their near Customer Care Centre to verify the identity of the brigades visiting their homes. This will ensure the legitimacy of the individuals assisting them.
MMC Dlabathi pointed out the key finance priority areas to recover and re-build a strong financial position:
– Encourage and foster the culture of payment by every household that uses municipal services.
– Effective Debt Management underpinned nearly earning systems.
– Restoration of effective Revenue Enhancement Programs.
– Business and households incentives for sustainable payment.
– Enabling Private Sectors Investment to expand the revenue Base.
– Exploitation of Municipal Assets to generate revenue with a strong. Collaboration with the Private Sector.
– Once off conditional debt and interest relief to re-boot our debtor’s book.
– Curtailing revenue leakages and losses.
– Improving the accuracy of billing.
– Sourcing of more grant funding.
SCM AND EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT
– Compliant Supply Chain Management: to curtail and prevent unnecessary occurrences of wasteful, fruitless and Irregular.
– Economic use of municipal finances
– Tightening procuring for good and services are primarily for providing essential services.
– Systematic and efficient payment system
Contract Management.
– Transformative Supply Chain Management to Local Economic Empowerment.
BUDGET MANAGEMENT
– Compliant and Funded Budget.
– Responsive and developmental budget [Political Leadership Priorities, GDS and Key Community Needs].
– Regular monitoring of budget implementation and related expenditure.
FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE
– Prudent Financial Management.
– Cash Flow Management.
– Value for Money.
– Minimization of cost overruns, particularly on Capital Projects.
– Dealing with maladministration with our finances.
IMPROVING AUDIT PERFORMANCE
– Acceptable financial reporting and accounting.
– Sound financial governance that prevents material contraventions.
– Sustainable financial controls.
– Improving stakeholder relations with the Office of the Auditor General South Africa.
