eThekwini Municipality issues urgent warning on payment scams targeting ratepayers

The eThekwini Municipality said it has received “concerning” reports of individuals attempting to extort money from ratepayers by using an FNB account that is not linked to the municipality.

The modus operandi of these criminals involves sending customers emails from Gmail accounts or WhatsApp messages, fraudulently requesting payment for municipal services into a fake FNB account.

The latest warning follows a December 2025 attempt by a man posing as an eThekwini Municipality employee to swindle a Durban business out of R61,000. 

The man had instilled fear in the businesswoman during a phone call by threatening to arrive at her premises and disconnect her water and electricity supply unless she paid him to stop the process. 

The woman contacted the eThekwini Ratepayers Political Movement (ERPM) chairperson, Asad Gaffar. He said this was not the only incident reported.

He said that individuals who are in arrears have been receiving phone calls and SMS concerning the amount that is in arrears. These individuals have been targeted.

Gaffar said the people calling them have all the necessary information, including the account number, outstanding arrear balances, and addresses.

The municipality urges all customers not to fall prey to this scam and has provided the following tips to avoid being scammed: 

• The city will never send an email from a Gmail account. 
• You will never receive a WhatsApp message requesting payment. 
• The correct FNB account number for eThekwini Municipality is 63165746323 — this appears on the official municipal bill. 
• When paying via EFT, always use the public beneficiary “eThekwini Municipality” found on your banking app.

In August 2025, the municipality was made aware of criminals disguising themselves as employees purporting to be from the eThekwini Water Services Directorate.

These criminals allegedly solicited bribes from residents, claiming they had been sent to disconnect the water supply, and requested a bribe for the residents’ water not to be disconnected. 

• The municipality does not collect cash on the spot, nor does it send employees to collect money directly from residents.  
• Municipal services are paid for at our facilities and through the bank. 
• Municipal employees assigned to any property always carry identification cards and a disconnection slip. 

It was also previously reported that individuals impersonating municipality officials contact members of the public requesting a meeting to discuss advertised tenders.

Members of the public are also contacted via spoofed emails made to look like they were sent from eThekwini Municipality but are in fact fraudulent emails aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims.

The municipality emphasised that no bidder should be approached by or meet with an official to discuss advertised tenders and urged all bidders to follow proper bidding and tendering processes.

Customers are urged to report any suspicious communication or requests for payment to their nearest Sizakala Centre or call 0800 20 20 20.

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