Mayor slapped with two court orders

This comes after two complainants took the city council to court over erroneous electricity bills.

According to a report by The Star, the Hellenic Community took the city council to the High Court in Johannesburg after being incorrectly billed. The court ordered the city council to reverse the incorrect charges and to install a new meter.

However, Tau and his mayoral committee were then ordered to pay a R50 000 fine for contempt of court after the city council ignored the earlier order.

The council has been given 20 days to pay R50 000 and court application costs.

The Star reported that Tau, as head of the city council, was responsible for ensuring that the billing department responded to the court order.

City council spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane acknowledged the court matter, but would not comment on its details.

“The City of Johannesburg has noted the court matter by the Hellenic Community and is currently studying the judgment against the facts of this case,” he said.

“The City’s legal department is currently arranging a meeting with this particular client.”

In the second matter, the managing agents of a Randburg complex went to the High Court in Johannesburg in June 2012 to dispute a municipal bill, amounting to R2.6 million owed for electricity.

According to the Star, the court ordered the city council to repair or replace the electricity meter, to adjust the accounts, and issue a full statement within 15 days.

However, this was ignored and in November last year one of the complex’s managing agents returned to court for a contempt of court order application, which was granted.

The city council was given three months to once again rectify the situation, but this was also ignored.

Responding to questions about the matters, Modingoane said, “The City of Johannesburg wishes to assure all ratepayers that significant progress has been made in improving the efficiency of our billing system and maintaining a strong and robust financial position.

“All queries raised with the City are addressed effectively as a matter of course.”