The lack of service at the Edenvale customer care centre (CCC) has infuriated Edenvale town planner Chris Boshoff.
Boshoff is also a professional property valuer who helps clients solve property-related matters.
He said he had hit a brick wall after trying to interact with staff at the care centre.
He said this was the first time it happened in his 25 years of experience. He said it was also the first Edenvale property he was tasked to resolve.
Boshoff is trying to create accounts for a consolidated property and a new subdivision.
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Despite going to the customer care centre at least six times over three weeks, Boshoff said he has only been able to see the relevant person once.
According to Boshoff, the standard procedure is a copy of the record, obtained from the deeds office, is taken to the CCC with supporting documents.
“This is done to show that the property exists and to provide the size and extent of the property.”
A copy of the deed is given to the council with a surveyor general diagram.
“The staff member responsible verifies the information, accesses their Geographic Information System, and updates the system. The task I have requested him to undertake is a simple one.
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“When I go to the Boksburg CCC, the individual responsible there can do the same exercise in about three minutes while I wait and provides me with an account number for the property immediately,” explained Boshoff.
According to Boshoff, contracted recently to solve this dilemma, one of the property’s problems has gone on for two years.
At the start of 2022, the client employed the services of CLK Municipal Consulting. They struggled to get the Edenvale CCC to follow through, with the consolidation presented with one excuse after another.
CLK Municipal Consulting tried to engage with the area manager, but nothing came of this.
The client took a day’s leave and visited the responsible employee personally, providing him with the necessary documents.
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This included the deed of transfer, the original certificate of consolidation and the notarial deed of right of way servitude.
Later, in 2022, the client was told the city was processing the account.
Since then, no communication has been received from the city.
Last year, the client requested the help of Nicole Sinovich Attorney Inc.
Following this, Boshoff was brought in in May this year to try and resolve the matter.
“It’s a case of having people in the positions who are competent of fulfilling their duties.
“Why is it that I can go to Boksburg and get something done in three minutes, whereas in Edenvale, it’s taken years?” asked Boshoff.
He said while dealing with properties in the jurisdiction of Boksburg, Germiston, and Kempton Park, the customer care centres’ officials have been friendly and helpful and sorted the matters out.
We requested comments from the city on July 3, requesting a reply by July 5 at 13:00.
At the time of going to print, we had received no comment.
