Operation Patela tackles Tom Street and Primindia

BRITS – On Friday, 10 October 2025, Madibeng Local Municipality’s revenue enhancement program, Operation Patela, was in Tom Street and Primindia, where the team disconnected businesses and households whose municipal accounts are in arrears and those that are illegally connected.

Operation Patela is an ongoing program covering the whole of Madibeng to identify account holders who have been evading payment, properties with illegal connections and those who illegally reconnect themselves when the municipality cuts off their services.

Account holders have a responsibility to ensure that they receive monthly billing statements from the municipality and that their accounts are in good standing. Those who do not get their statements should visit the municipality to update or correct their information as they are still liable for the services they consume, and failure to pay will result in their electricity supply being switched off.

Consumers are also warned not to open electricity kiosks or interfere with meters. Tampering with municipal infrastructure is a criminal offence.

Properties that are found to have bridged electricity and water are disconnected and fined R250 000 according to the law. The fine must be paid before the outstanding amount on their account can be settled. And when a property’s services are cut off by the municipality due to arrears or tampering, it is illegal for one to reconnect themselves. The municipality has opened cases with SAPS against property owners that have reconnected themselves without following proper channels.

Account holders who are in arrears are encouraged to settle their municipal accounts or approach the municipality to make a payment arrangement.
Operation Patela will be continuing in the rest of Madibeng.