Residents relieved as municipality reinstates rebate
Resident Peter David said he is concerned for the future as he and other residents at the flat rely on this rebate to get by.
RESIDENTS at Lantern Heath have breathed a sigh of relief after their water rebate was reinstated recently.
Pensioner, Peter David (76), who lives at the Umbilo block of flats, said he has been receiving a rebate of six kilolitres of water on his water bill since he moved into the flat in the early 2000s.
“It used to be nine kilolitres per month, but now it’s changed to six kilolitres. They didn’t give the water rebate in January. Many people don’t know that the rebate was reinstated in February. Furthermore, in March my account was credited with the January rebate that we did not receive,” said the resident.
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He showed the Berea Mail his water bill which reflected a credit of about R120, the amount usually deducted from the water bill for the rebate.
While he is glad to have the rebate reinstated, David said he is concerned for the future as he and other residents at the flat rely on this rebate to get by.
“We don’t know why the rebate was not given to us in January. It was like being overcharged,” he said.
“When you are dependent on the social grants, every little cent counts. If you haven’t got anything, you can’t buy anything,” he added.
David explained that Lantern Heath was ex-council buildings.
“Now council has given the tenants title deeds,” he said.
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Another resident in the block of flats, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they had to take money out of their food budget to pay their water bill when the rebate was not given in January.
“There was big difference after we consulted with someone from the Water Department. We were under pressure financially because of the electrical bill and food is expensive. We really depend on the rebate, it’s a help,” they said.
The eThekwini Municipality did not send their comment at the time this article went to press.
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