Stay alert: Drakenstein residents warned about scammers impersonating municipal officials

Between April and July 2025, the fraud risk management team received three reports of persons falsely claiming to be from the municipality, the Drakenstein Municipality told Bolander. 

Screenshots of the alleged scammers’ messages were submitted to the municipality on Wednesday, April 2, and Wednesday, July 2, respectively, while a third report was logged via a hotline on Saturday, June 24.

The municipality said scammers in the area are using various names and titles to impersonate municipal officials to demand large payments into unknown bank accounts or, in some instances, to gain unlawful access to properties.

Customers will never receive legitimate communication about accounts in arrears on platforms such as WhatsApp, nor will they be asked to settle a municipal account via e-wallet, according to the municipality.

Drakenstein Municipality uses the SeeClickFix system to help residents submit and track their non-emergency service requests - via the web or a mobile app. 

The correct procedure for municipal account enquiries, confidential requests or reports, or other queries, is to call the municipality at 080 131 3553 toll-free or send an email to customercare@drakenstein.gov.za.

Customers can also contact the municipality’s banking section at 021 807 4500 or send an email to banking@drakenstein.gov.za.

For emergencies such as electricity outages, water pipe bursts, fires, or law enforcement assistance, please call the Municipality at 080 131 3553 toll-free.

Residents should consider the following before allowing a municipal worker onto their property:

• Did the resident or owner of the property report a fault?
• Are the municipal worker(s) carrying official identification from Drakenstein Municipality?
• Did the municipal worker(s) arrive in an official Drakenstein Municipality vehicle? And
• If still in doubt, ask the worker(s) for the name and contact number of their manager and call to confirm the facts.