By Thulane Madalane
Emalahleni: The Emalahleni Local Municipality has issued an urgent alert to residents about fraudulent phone calls attempting to extort payments.
The calls, originating from the number 079 964 2528, are made by an individual falsely claiming to represent the Municipality. The caller alleges that residents’ electricity installations are not compliant with Certificate of Compliance (CoC) regulations.
Residents are being threatened with electricity disconnection unless immediate payment is made, leading to confusion and panic in the community.
The Municipality has confirmed that these claims are entirely false and has warned residents not to fall victim to the scam.
In an official statement, the Municipality stressed: “We do not solicit payments over the phone or via personal accounts for any installation or compliance issues. Furthermore, no official disconnection takes place without proper written notice and due process.”
Residents are urged not to transfer any money in a state of panic and to report such incidents to local authorities immediately.
