Let me start by saying that I’m an avid user of Ekurhuleni’s Report It tool on the website.
I have used it numerous times to report streetlights out (or on, during the day), water issues, clogged storm water drains and illegal dumping, as well as road markings.
In fact, I need to heap some praise on the road marking team, especially, as they have responded within days of my requests for the repainting of lines, specifically at stop streets near my home, as well as markings outside my son’s school.
My Metro Mantra is: “If they don’t know about it, they can’t fix it.”
But there are things they do know about – like my water meter, which has been leaking for months.
I recall reporting it on a Saturday, via the website, and being surprised on the Sunday when a team arrived.
But it wasn’t fixed that day.
I had reported a neighbour’s water meter too – the same team left a gaping hole, bordered with barrier tape.
That was a few weeks ago.
The website has a downside though: you don’t get a reference number when you report water issues such as leaking meters.
In order to receive a water-related reference number via SMS, you need to phone the call centre, which I have done, on numerous occasions, to try to fast track the repair of my leaky meter.
Over the past few months, our water bill has skyrocketed to almost double.
On Friday, October 23, I received an SMS, saying: “The water demand is too high and reaching critical levels.
The City of Ekurhuleni urges you to fix any leaking taps, use the bucket when washing the car, refrain from filling your swimming pools, re-use your water to water your garden, use less water when bathing or showering and report any burst water pipe to 0860 543 000.”
Shortly thereafter I phoned to report my water meter leak (again), as well as a leaking fire hydrant down the road.
I was told, rather indifferently, that there is a five to seven working day turnaround on water repairs, that they will be there, but there is a backlog.
If there is a backlog, then bring in more service providers to fix it.
And why must a team of four people be there when the job can be fixed by two people?
Surely this “turnaround time” and allocation of manpower needs to be addressed – water is precious and the amount of water “going down the drain” is disturbing.
Editor’s note: The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality was approached for comment but none had been received at the time of going to print.
Send your letters to bctletters@caxton.co.za.
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