Criminals are posing as City workers to gain entry to homes, the City has warned.
The City says the criminals dress in municipal uniforms, pretending to do “electricity infrastructure” checks.
The fake employees insist that residents open their doors so that they can check plugs and wiring.
Phindile Maxiti, mayoral committee member for energy and climate change, said the City would make an appointment with residents to check on electricity meters but not plugs and wiring as those were the responsibility of residents.
“All municipal workers and contractors must carry a City-issued identification card and work-order number specific to that dwelling. Residents should ask to check the official card before allowing anyone onto their property,” he said.
The identification card must display the City logo, the name and surname of the staff member or mandated contractor, and must contain an embedded photo of the staff member or contractor.
Residents are not to allow any person onto their premises until they have verified these details.
“We ask our residents to be vigilant.”
The City is rolling out a free electricity meter replacement programme across the metro and says it does target marketing and mailbox drops of any planned work to be carried out in the area.
Each meter replacement has a notification number on the City’s internal system, which the City call centre can verify should a resident enquire.
Residents can make an appointment for their meter to be changed at a time that suits them.
Anysuspiciousbehaviour must be reported to the City’s law enforcement agencies or to SAPS.
Members of the public can verify whether visitors to their home are in fact employed by the City by phoning the call centre at 0860 103 089 to confirm whether work is being carried out in their area, informing the official that they will allow them entry only once the call centre has verified their identity.
Or residents can find out which suburbs have had this work completed and if their suburb has been selected for compulsory upgrades by viewing the full project schedule on the City’s website.
