 | Drakenstein Municipality warns residents of ongoing disconnection scam
08 June 2026 | Press Releases |
Drakenstein Municipality wishes to alert residents to an ongoing scam involving fraudulent disconnection notices and threats of service disconnection, which is targeting communities across South Africa, including Drakenstein.
The Municipality has received new reports as recently as this morning, 8 June 2026, indicating that scammers are actively attempting to defraud residents.
Fraudsters are impersonating municipal officials and falsely claiming that residents' water or electricity services will be disconnected due to outstanding payments. Residents are then pressured to make urgent payments to avoid the alleged disconnections.
Modus operandi
The scammers contact residents via WhatsApp or phone calls, pose as officials from the Municipality's Revenue or “Disconnections" departments, threaten immediate disconnection of services, and demand urgent payment – often ranging between R500 and R3 000.
WhatsApp profile names used:
- Head of Disconnection;
- Head of Disconnection Electricity;
- Revenue Department; and
- Revenue Services.
Known numbers linked to the scam:
- 063 194 3490;
- 063 508 1000;
- 063 573 4217;
- 064 078 2291;
- 065 549 9538;
- 067 852 6330;
- 068 010 7426;
- 068 992 3276;
- 071 203 1258;
- 072 346 9771;
- 073 332 8085;
- 074 676 3701;
- 077 267 4790;
- 079 972 8063; and
- 084 899 5258.
Please note that scammers frequently change numbers.
Names used by scammers include:
- Rodwell Khumalo;
- Kenny Ngene;
- Sibusiso Khumalo;
- Kelvin Ndlovu;
- Raymond Dube;
- Darrick Smith; and
- Steven Mlambo
These individuals falsely claim to represent various municipalities, including Drakenstein.
Please note
Drakenstein Municipality will never request payment via WhatsApp, phone calls or personal accounts. No municipal official is authorised to demand immediate payment to prevent disconnection. All official accounts and payment processes are managed through formal municipal billing systems.
What to do
- Do not make any payments based on unsolicited messages or calls;
- Ignore demands for CashSend, e-wallet, or personal bank transfers - these are hallmarks of fraud;
- Do not share personal or banking information; and
- Verify your account directly with the Municipality.
Residents are encouraged to report incidents to Drakenstein Municipality Customer Care at 021 807 4500 or customercare@drakenstein.gov.za.
The Municipality urges all residents to remain vigilant and to help spread awareness about scams to family, friends and neighbours.
Stay alert. Stay informed. Do not fall victim to scams.
[END]
Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
About Drakenstein Municipality
Located an hour's drive from Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is one of the country's most financially sound, well-governed, stable and sustainable municipalities. The Municipality is rated the Best Municipality in the Western Cape for service excellence as well as the Number One Secondary City in South Africa. Drakenstein Municipality has achieved 11 unqualified audit opinions with no findings (clean audits) from the Auditor-General of South Africa. Boasting the largest economy in the Cape Winelands, Drakenstein is home to 311 601 residents and includes the historic Winelands towns of Paarl and Wellington.
Embodying its vision of “a city of excellence", the Municipality prides itself on providing its residents, businesses, investors and visitors with excellent services and well-maintained, advanced infrastructure. As Southern Africa's first self-declared Fair Trade City and the fourth in Africa, Drakenstein Municipality is serious about building a sustainable future and has garnered various awards for its commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Drakenstein is also recognised for having one of the highest growth potentials in the Western Cape. As a progressive business and investment area and a city geared for growth, it constantly attracts new development.
Visit our website at https://www.drakenstein.gov.za/ or follow us on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Issued by Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
Visit our website at www.drakenstein.gov.za or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
