The City of Tshwane’s aggressive revenue collection drive called Tshwane Ya Tima has landed prominent businessman Thami Ndlala in hot water after his properties in Arcadia were found to have been illegally reconnected to the grid.

Mayor Nasiphi Moya said electricity supply to several Ndlala-owned properties – Thami Ndlala Mall and Apartments – was initially cut off in December for owing the municipality over R600,000.

This week, Moya led his team to revisit the properties, only to find the supply had been unlawfully restored.

“We were back because they illegally reconnected without settlement of the account. In addition, this property owes over R1 million for water,” she said.

Moya announced that Ndlala’s accommodation facility in Pretoria CBD, Ndlala Dynasty, also owes Tshwane a staggering R2.3 million in unpaid bills.

The property was targeted for the city’s debt collection efforts and disconnected from the power grid.

Moya said: “We’ve disconnected electricity at another property owned by Thami Ndlala – Ndlala Dynasty – which is an accommodation facility in the Pretoria CBD. The property owes R2.3 million for electricity.”

Ndlala, who is the husband of media personality Lerato Kganyago, bought Sterland Mall in Arcadia and rebranded it as Ndlala Mall. 

In August last year, the Ndlala Arena, located within the mall, played host to R&B legends Joe Thomas and Donell Jones, who headlined the grand opening of the mall.

Ndlala is CEO of Ndlalayesizwe Real Estate, an international real estate company with offices in South Africa, London, and the USA.

The company boasts a diverse portfolio, managing prominent developments like Ndlala Dynasty and Ndlala Seigniory in Pretoria, as well as 12 on Hillel Villa 7 Spa in Johannesburg’s Northcliff.

Efforts to get a comment from Ndlala have been unsuccessful.

As part of the city’s debt recovery efforts, Moya also led her team to disconnect power to MTN’s Centurion office over unpaid electricity bills totalling R1.6 million.

According to her, MTN acted swiftly to settle its debt by paying R3m to the city.

Nompilo Morafo, chief sustainability & corporate affairs officer at MTN, confirmed that all outstanding municipal electricity-related charges for its Centurion property were settled in full prior to the electricity supply being disconnected by the municipality.

She said: “Following the disconnection, MTN immediately engaged the City of Tshwane and provided proof of payment to demonstrate that the account had been paid and was not in arrears at the time the electricity supply was cut.” 

Morafo said MTN will continue to engage with the metro to resolve the matter as a priority and to ensure the restoration of services.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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