PENSIONERS at Lantern Heath are worried after not receiving their regular water rebate from the city last month.
Peter David, (76), a pensioner, said he has been receiving a rebate of five kilolitres of water on his water bill since he moved into the flat around the early 2000s.
“Every cent counts. It might not be a lot of money to a lot of people but for someone like me, who is relying on pension for income, we need this rebate,” he said.
David showed Berea Mail his previous water bills and he used to receive around R120 per month rebate. In his last month (January), David was charged the full amount without any rebate.
“Maybe it’s because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the (eThekwini) municipality is trying to recoup some money but we don’t know if this is a one-off or the way forward from now,” he said.
Lolly Charles, another pensioner, said she did not know she didn’t get a rebate last month until David raised the issue with her.
“I just assumed because electricity went up that’s why my bill is a bit higher,” she said.
“I will start seriously worrying once it is higher than R1000.”
Charles also showed Berea Mail her previous bills and she would receive around a R230 water rebate per month.
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Rajambigai Naidoo, (77), is an elderly and sickly woman who lives with her daughters and grandchildren in her flat.
Her water rebate is around R400 per month and like others, she did not receive it this month.
“My mother is sick, she’s at the hospital right now,” said Pam Mathys, the daughter.
“My sister who pays the bills has been trying to get time off during the week to go and sort out this problem at the department but she’s only off on weekends.”
Lantern Heath is a block of flats that was built by the South African government as part of its Reconstruction and Development Programme. The flats were given to pensioner and low income earners.
The eThekwini Municipality has a rebate programme for any persons over the age of 60.
Questions were sent to the eThekwini Municipality two weeks ago but other than promising to call the pensioners, there was no response.
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