Be aware, report water disconnection scams
02 December 2025
Residents are reminded to be alert and aware of scammers posing as City Water and Sanitation staff soliciting payment from customers to avoid supposed water restrictions/disconnections. The City will never request payment via cash send or e-wallet to settle municipal bills.
This scam has been ongoing since last year and involves a scammer contacting a City customer via telephone or WhatsApp, claiming to be from the City's Water and Sanitation Directorate. They then provide the relevant property details and advise the resident that the water to the property will be disconnected immediately due to the municipal account being in arrears. The customer is then told to pay a reconnection fee via cash send or e-wallet.
The City most recently became aware of an incident in Retreat, which involved a customer whose municipal account was up to date.
Facts:
The City will never request payment via cash send or e-wallet.
Property owners should check their monthly municipal bills for the status of their accounts. They are welcome to call the City’s Call Centre should they have queries.Residents who are in arrears with their municipal account will receive direct notices from the City via email or post on an official City of Cape Town letterhead.
Report any suspicious behaviour to the City's law enforcement agencies, the City's Fraud Hotline on 0800 1100 77 or to the South African Police Service. SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention.
Customers are encouraged to make use of the various City communication channels to verify any communication they receive from the City:
'We urge residents to remain extra vigilant and to verify any suspicious correspondence directly with the City before taking any action. Our concern is especially for customers who may be in arrears on their municipal accounts, as they could be more vulnerable to scams promising to prevent water disconnections or restrictions,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
