Enoch Mgijima Municipality Issues Ultimatum to Residents Over Unpaid Rates and Service Fees

Enoch Mgijima Municipality sets April 27 deadline for Komani residents to pay bills or lose electricity access despite claims of poor service.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 4:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from GroundUp

Aggressive Debt Recovery Triggers Community Unrest

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality has initiated a controversial revenue protection measure by blocking the electricity meters of more than 200 households in Enkululekweni, Komani. Residents discovered the blockade on April 12 when they attempted to purchase power credits, only to be told the restriction was a response to unpaid municipal rates. On Thursday, more than 60 community members marched to the municipal offices in the Eastern Cape to demand an immediate reversal of the policy. Acting Mayor Unathi Galada defended the action as a necessary step to distinguish between residents who can afford to pay and those who qualify for indigent support.

Disputes Over Inactive Waste Management Services

Central to the residents' grievances is a monthly R235 charge for refuse collection, a service they claim has not been rendered for years. Community leader Elias Magwayi reported that garbage is routinely burned in the streets because municipal trucks never enter the area. Tensions escalated following reports that the Department of Employment and Labour had grounded the municipal fleet due to safety violations and unroadworthy vehicles. Despite the cessation of service, residents continue to see the collection fee on their accounts, leading to accusations that the municipality is enforcing payments for services it is legally prohibited from performing.

Financial Hardship and the Indigent Application Process

Individual debt levels in the area have reportedly spiraled, with some households owing more than R70,000 in accumulated rates and interest. According to Galada, many of these debts date back to 2011. While the municipality has offered to facilitate indigent status for those on disability or old age grants, residents like Polina Cothiyane and Sandile Dyemsana expressed frustration at the bureaucratic hurdles. Cothiyane, who relies on a disability grant, noted that she was asked to pay R1,000 monthly, an amount she cannot afford while managing medication and food costs.