AG roped in to probe R2bn revenue shortfall in Ekurhuleni caused by account tampering
Earlier this month, it emerged some households and businesses have been paying much less than they should to the city - while others had their outstanding balances erased.
An Ekurhuleni city council meeting where Mayor Doctor Xhakaza is expected to deliver his State of the City Address. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The auditor-general has been roped in to investigate a R2 billion revenue shortfall in the City of Ekurhuleni caused by the tampering of billing accounts.
Earlier in March, it emerged that some households and businesses had been paying much less than they should to the city, while others had their outstanding balances erased.
This has led to financial losses, with the city failing to meet its revenue collection targets.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza addressed this matter during a post-State of the City Address media briefing on Thursday.
A report from the City of Ekurhuleni revealed that thousands of households in the metro had their accounts tampered with to avoid paying their debts to the city.
This syndicate began as early as July 2023 and continued until the city detected unusual revenue shortfalls earlier this year.
Xhakaza said the matter required urgent attention and had been escalated to the auditor-general.
"We then called for a forensic investigation. We have since approached the auditor-general as an independent body to assist us to look into the matter."
He said the city would also take action against senior officials who allowed the tampering of accounts to happen.