Mixed reactions as Tshwane cuts off power to Weskoppies over debt
The Tshwane Metro, led by Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, recently disconnected municipal services to several locations at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital during a recent Tshwane Ya Tima drive.
The Tshwane Ya Tima revenue collection campaign seeks to disconnect services to defaulting clients who run up high service bills and then fail to pay the city.
During the drive on May 5, electricity was switched off to Weskoppies due to owing R1.2-million for non-payment over the past two months.
The move has garnered mixed reactions from the public, who believe that this was a step too far, and cutting power to mentally-ill patients is a decision that should have been avoided.
Moya, however, remained adamant that government institutions that fail to honour their debts with the metro can expect a visit from them any day.
'The fourth stop for Tshwane Ya Tima is in the CBD. This facility (referring to Weskoppies) owes the City of Tshwane R1-million. We've switched them off. We encourage all customers who have outstanding bills with the city to settle them,' said Moya via her social media.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has since released a statement claiming that the money owed to the city was being processed at the time the Ya Tima team paid Weskoppies a visit.
'The processing of the R1.2-million owed to the City of Tshwane for March and April electricity consumption was already underway at the time the municipality effected credit control and disconnected Weskoppies Hospital on Monday. The delay in payment is attributed to the transition to the new financial year. The hospital normally makes additional payments to ensure a continuous electricity supply; however, this time around, it could not do so. The owed amount is currently being processed for payment,' the statement read.
The GDoH processed R3.8-million to the city concerning other facilities in Tshwane, and that the money was already scheduled for payment on May 5 as part of the payment run to various service providers, the statement continued.
The GDoH said it's continuing to engage with the metro and that backup power supplies from five generators and solar panels are keeping Weskoppies up and running, and patient care can continue uninterrupted.
As previously mentioned, the move to disconnect the facility has come under fire from many who claim the act was inhumane, one of those parties being MK.
Through a released statement, the MKP (uMkhonto weSizwe Party-Medics) have condemned the mayor and the metro's actions against the facility.
MKP said the metro should punish the ones who owe them and not the vulnerable who don't.
'MKP Medics stands firmly against the inhumane disconnection of electricity at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Patients' lives and dignity must be protected. We demand accountability from those responsible –not punishment of the vulnerable,' the statement read.
Various other private and public institutions also received visits from the metro for outstanding debt collection.
'It's important that residents are aware that when Tshwane Ya Tima reaches your doors, it follows extensive consultation by our finance department. We don't just switch off without due process. We have switched off private businesses, we have switched off households, and we have switched off public buildings as well. We are very consistent, and we do not have people who we do not switch off in this campaign,' Moya said.
'It's quite important that we must raise revenue; the services you are complaining about will not be able to be delivered if we do not collect revenue. So we do this so that businesses and government must know that they have a responsibility to pay for our services,' Moya said.
Watch here:
Our last stop for the day was at King Pie located in the CBD. This business owes the city R868,000. We have switched them off. It's important that residents must be aware that when Tshwane Ya Tima reaches your doors, it follows extensive consultation by our finance department. We… pic.twitter.com/Uzllcu2PUv
— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) May 5, 2025
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