Mr Cimato said he reported problems with his water meter to the council’s water department last year, but no action was taken to resolve the problem.
“After only receiving an interim water meter reading statement for several months, I was concerned if anyone was actually reading my meter. I went and checked the meter only to find it was not working. I reported it and was told I should take pictures to confirm my opinion,” said Mr Cimato.
He did what was requested and was told somebody would come to fix it.
He said some people came and worked on his water meter on August 22.
“They finished and resurfaced the ground but I did not have any water. My employees and I dug up the area on Friday and discovered the pipe had a sharp bend in it. The water could not pass through the pipe because of this bend,” he said. He then phoned the call centre again.
“The women at the call centre and water department were fantastic. It is just the people they sent to me for repair work,” said Mr Cimato.
After his phone call, another team came again but he still had no water after they left.
“Two very young men came and installed a smaller pipe from the meter. Then there was not enough pressure to push the water into the house. That means, even after so many attempts, I still do not have any water. I have to rely on friends for water,” he said.
He said it looked like the metro was appointing contractors based on the price they charged, and not on the quality of work they could provide.
“I am disappointed. I was trying to do the right thing by reporting my faulty meter. Before all this, I had water. Now I have no water. I understand that people make mistakes, but so many times, no. This is what makes people angry,” he said.
Mr Cimato called on the executive mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mondli Gungubele, to closely monitor the contractors working in the area.
“He should go around and see what the contractors are doing to his residents. He should make sure the work of these contractors is monitored. There should be someone who tests and confirms that the work has been completed properly. The metro must stop employing cheap contractors but companies or people who know their job and have the right qualifications and credentials, Above all, monitor them and check if the work is done properly,” Mr Cimato said.
The NEWS requested comment on the statements made by Mr Cimato from EMM spokesperson, Mr Sam Modiba on August 28. Comment was requested by August 31. At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
