By Nangamso Mabindla

Twelve of Buffalo City's most conscientious residents were each presented with a R2 500 cheque last night for settling their accounts on time at the launch of the municipality's pay-and-win competition.

The competition, which was officially launched at City Hall in East London last night, aims at encouraging customers to pay their accounts on time.

Buffalo City Executive Mayor Sindisile Maclean said he was proud that the city had citizens who appreciated the municipality's services. He told the winners: "What I would like to emphasise is that, by winning here tonight, you have made the municipality a winner as well. This shows that our services to you are appreciated."

He also encouraged citizens who were not up to date with their bills to make an effort to pay their accounts on time.

"We care for our citizens. This care was the reason we decided to have a competition like this to encourage them to pay on time. We do not like cutting residents' electricity. That is why we initiated the competition," he said.

Councillor Maclean said that although the municipality had strict credit-control policies, it did not cut residents' water.

"I was in a taxi the other day and I heard people talking about the electricity cuts when they're not up to date with payments. One of the citizens said that we cut water as well. I would like to emphasise that we look after the poor people. The last thing we'd do is to deprive our people of a natural resource."

The pay-and-win incentive scheme has a budget of R100 000 for the current financial year. About R10 000 will be given out every month as prize money.