Press Release / News Item
Thursday, January 27, 2005

OITPS: New municipal account system
Released by: Communication Division
 

NEW MUNICIPAL ACCOUNT SYSTEM FOR TSHWANE METRO
TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THREE PHASES BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JUNE 2005

The One Integrated Transaction Processing System (OITPS) is a technology-based integrated business solution that the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM) is implementing to enhance its business operations and systems. The solution will boost customer service efficiency in line with local government`s service delivery mandate.

A comprehensive internal training and communication drive was launched during 2004 to prepare staff for the changeover to the new system. The changeover of internal systems was scheduled for the period between mid December and mid January - which had been identified as the optimum time during which to effect the first system changes. The new system is performing as expected and all the functionality expected is available.

The revenue management/billing system will be next in line to change over to the new system. Three groups of municipal account holders will be progressively switched over to the new billing system between February and July.

During the last week of February and the beginning of March, customers in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch will be the first in Tshwane to receive municipal accounts generated by the Municipality`s new integrated accounts/billing system. As before, accounts are payable within three weeks of the billing date (the date printed on the account). This means that residents and businesses in these areas of Tshwane will have to pay the first municipal account produced by the new billing system by the end of the third week of March.

The second group of suburbs to go onto the new billing system includes those situated in Mabopane, Crocodile River, Atteridgeville, Pretoria Central and Pretoria East, Eersterust and Mamelodi. Municipal customers in these areas will receive their first accounts produced by the new system towards the end of May and the beginning of June.

Suburbs in Akasia, Hammanskraal, Soshanguve and Pienaarsrivier will be the last to be switched over to the new billing system. Municipal customers in these areas will receive the first batch of new accounts in July.

Consumers are reminded that municipal accounts will be rendered and are payable as usual in the period prior to the implementation of the new system in the various areas.

Once all three consumer areas have been incorporated into the new billing system, customers will be able to access their account information from any of the Municipality`s customer care centres in Tshwane. This project is in line with the Municipality`s efforts to improve customer service and put the people first (in accordance with the Batho Pele principles) through the use of technology.

The Municipality will be making available detailed information about how the new billing system will impact on the municipal accounts of the three groups of consumers and what practical arrangements have been made for the changeover phase. This forms part of the communication drive launched last year.

The following information applies mainly to the first group of customers affected by the changeover to the new system, namely customers in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch.

Frequently asked questions about the new municipal billing system to be implemented for the first group of municipal account holders (i.e. consumers in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch) in February/March 2005

Q: Which suburbs are affected by the first changeover to the Municipality`s new billing system?
A: The following suburbs of Tshwane will be affected:
BRAKFONTEIN 390 JR LEKKERHOEKIE 411 JR
BRAKFONTEIN 399 JR LEKKERHOEKIE 450 JR
BRAKFONTEIN 419 JR LYTTELTON 381 JR
BRONBERRIK LYTTELTON AH
CELTISDAL LYTTELTON MANOR
CHRISTOBURG MNANDI AH
CLAUDIUS MONAVONI AH
CLUBVIEW MOOIPLAATS 355 JR
CRANBROOKVALE OLIEVENHOUTBOSCH
DELTOIDIA AH OLIEVENHOUTBOSCH AH 389 JR
DIE HOEWES PIERRE VAN RYNEVELD
DOORNKLOOF 391 JR PRETORIA TOWN AND TOWNLANDS
DORINGKLOOF RASLOUW AH
DOORNKLOOF OUTLYING AREAS (ELEKR) (DOORNKLOOF 391 JR) ROOIHUISKRAAL
DROOGEGROND ROOIHUISKRAAL NOORD
ELDORAIGNE SIMARLO AH
ERASMIA SUNDERLAND RIDGE
ERASMIA 350 JR SUNDERLAND RIDGE AH
GA-RANKUWA SWARTKOP
GERHARDSVILLE AH TAMARA PARK
HENNOPSPARK TEMBA
HEUWELOORD THE REEDS
HIGHLANDS 359 JR VERWOERDBURGSTAD
HIGHVELD VILLAROSA
HOEKPLAATS 384 JR VLAKPLAATS 354 JR
IRENE WATERKLOOF
KLOOFZICHT WIERDAPARK
KNOPJESLAAGTE 385 WINTERVELD
KOSMOSDAL ZWARTKOP
LAUDIUM

Q: What can residents of Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch expect during the period just before the changeover to the new system, i.e. the period between 11 and 21 February 2005?
A: While the old system is being upgraded, a number of tasks and business transactions between the Municipality and these customers will be done manually on paper, but will be captured electronically on the new system after 21 February. In essence, only basic support will be provided, and it could take a little longer than usual to do certain transactions. Transactions for the following will be affected:

* Applications for municipal services such as water, electricity and refuse removal services
* Municipal rates (property tax) clearance certificates
* Cases where customers are moving out of or onto premises in the affected suburbs and need to conclude contracts with the Municipality for the provision or discontinuation of municipal services
* Changes to personal information such as addresses
* Changes to group account details
* Arrangements and deferrals
 
 

Residents who buy or sell property, and estate agents and lawyers who will be requiring clearance certificates from the Municipality for property transactions and the registration of deeds are advised to obtain them before the start of the changeover period, i.e. before the 11th of February, where possible, to avoid delays.

Customers should note that no new prepaid electricity meters will be installed in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch during the upgrading process. The sale of tokens for prepayment electricity will not, however, be affected. The cashier pay points will remain available, and the system of issuing receipts for payments received, meter readings for water and electricity and credit control action will not be affected and will continue as usual. Residents who send in their water and electricity meter readings to the Municipality should continue to do so.

Q: What critical changes will there be on the new municipal services account?
A: Customers should take note of the following:

* The new bank account numbers of the Municipality will be printed on the new account. Customers should ensure that the correct banking details are used when making account payments.
* The telephone numbers of the Municipality`s new centralised call centre and customer care walk-in centres will also be printed on the new account.
 
 

The layout of the new account will be similar to that of the old one. It will be light red in colour.

Q: What is the billing/consumption period of the first account produced by the new system?
A: Customers can expect a normal monthly billing period of between 32 and 37 days. In other words, the period of time between the last meter readings on the old system and the new meter readings on the new system will not be longer than usual (it is no different from the average monthly account).

Q: How much time will customers have to pay their municipal accounts?
A: As before, payment for municipal accounts is due within 21 days from the date of the production/printing of the account. The due date will be printed on the new account.

Q: Where and how can customers in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch enquire about their municipal accounts and other matters relating to the services of the Municipality?
A: A new centralised call centre will be available from 21 February 2005. The number of the new centralised call centre will be printed on the new account. In addition, customers can visit the existing walk-in centres in Centurion, Laudium, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Temba and Olievenhoutbosch.

Customers are reminded that the second area to be switched over to the new billing system (in April/May) includes Mabopane, Crocodile River, Atteridgeville, Pretoria Central and Pretoria East, Eersterust and Mamelodi. The last area to be affected (in June/July) includes Akasia, Hammanskraal, Soshanguve and Pienaarsrivier. Customers in these areas will receive more information as the Municipality continues with the role-out of its targeted communication campaign during the next few months.