It is still unclear when Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB) will be able to pay their bill, which runs into millions of rands and this led to their water and lights being switched off.
This resulted in angry residents taking to the streets in protest on February 13, barricading North Street in Regents Park. The following day, JMPD and Moffat View SAPS had to be called when the resident became unruly and took one of the negotiators, Hennie Els, hostage.
His car was cornered by the angry residents but he was later freed by the police.
Ward 57 councillor Faeeza Chame arranged an urgent meeting with MMC for Finance Julie Saddaby and the electricity was restored later on February 14.
“There is a lot of money that JSB is owing, there will be a follow-up meeting with all the necessary stakeholders to resolve this matter because people who are suffering here are the residents. We will try to come to a solution and we will update the residents with all the developments. At least for now they have electricity and water from a borehole,” she said.
Protest on February 14
The residents of the JSB in Regents Park were venting their frustrations after they spent six days without water and their power was cut as well.
According to Chame, they were trying their best to try to resolve the issue.
“I have spoken to the Mayor and MMC, they are going to see how best they can assist. The issue is the organisation is in arrears but at the same time, the association of the blind has billing issues that haven’t been resolved and has been going on for a couple of years,” she said.
“The management has shown me some files and nothing has been done,” said Chame.
One of the JSB representatives, Hennie Els, said those who don’t pay rent have no right to complain. Only those who pay rent should complain about the cut of water and power supply.
Chame stated that some of the residents are not paying rent and the amount of which the residents are paying is lower than the amount of a monthly bill.
