Due to Loren Koutsouvelis’ difficulties with a public liability claim, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has given additional information concerning these claims.
A claim may be submitted if a member of the public has suffered losses.
According to the CoE spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, a claim form can be obtained at the insurance section on the ground floor of the Sanburn Building, 68 Woburn Avenue, Benoni.
Gadebe said that the correct procedure can be concluded in three ways.
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You can submit a claim on the prescribed claim form directly to the metro’s insurance section.
“You can also approach your attorney to issue a summons, on your behalf, against the metro. You can also claim against your own insurance and ask the underwriter to recover the losses from the metro.
“The protocol thereafter once received, will then be registered with council’s appointed insurers.
“A departmental report is then requested from the department responsible for the loss. Based on the version of the claimant and the department, a ruling is made and the claimant is informed of the outcome,” said Gadebe.
If the claim is rejected and a claimant feels that facts are absent, the ruling may be appealed in writing with additional information in support of the appeal.
The information will be reviewed by insurers and the claimant will be notified of the ruling.
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Gadebe said the CoE has handled roughly 2 000 public liability claims in the past year. A number of successful claims have been made against the council, but may vary each year.
“The public should ideally claim against their own insurers and request them to recover the claim from the council,” said Gadebe.
“If there is a loss as a result of municipal workers, they are investigated and an outcome – based on the investigation – will be made on whether to take disciplinary action or not.”
Gadebe said that the public can claim for any loss suffered as a result of the conduct, omission, neglect or actions of the metro, whether accidental or not.
“The loss must be proven and quantified,” said Gadebe.
For information on how to file a public liability claim, call 011 999 6550 or 011 999 6547.
