JOHANNESBURG - A new year, and a new way of doing things.
That's the promise from the City of Johannesburg to those who default on their municipal rates.
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Businesses and citizens refusing to pay for services have been warned: The City of Johannesburg is coming after you.
Municipalities across the country are owed billions and with rising inflation and energy prices, the situation could get even worse.
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A financial expert says defaults are still quite common, especially by consumers struggling to balance their budgets.
And things could get worse with the rising cost of living now set to be compounded by high electricity tariffs.
* eNCA's Pule Letshwiti-Jones reports.