Paulshof resident Lita Jacobsen has lodged a complaint with the City’s Ombudsman’s office against Johannesburg Water officials and Ward 93 councillor Candice James for what she described as failure to do their job accordingly.
Jacobsen said this was after her countless failed attempts to have her house water meter issue with two different numbers resolved by the City’s water utility since November 2019. “I’ve been trying to have the issue of this meter with two different numbers resolved for the past 19 months. I have reported the matter to both Johannesburg Water and my ward councillor, Candice James, more than 21 times with no success.
“Instead of resolving the problem, Johannesburg Water sent me and threatened me with court papers, demanding payments for a meter number that I don’t know.”
Jacobsen said she wants the utility to compensate her for inconvenience over the past 19 months and all officials involved charged for poor performance. “On 27 November 2019, I logged a query with Joburg Water. On December 3 2019, I reached out to my ward councillor, Candice James, to assist.
“This week, I did my 21st follow-up in the period of 19 months and received three different reference numbers from Johannesburg Water. No one is assisting or contacting me to try and resolve this problem. I am sure that everyone will agree that it is only fair of me now to escalate the matter and lodge a complaint with the City’s Ombudsman.”
Ward 93 councillor Candice James said she has escalated the matter on many occasions with the utility. “I have escalated Lita Jacobsen’s water meter issue to the officials on many occasions. I do not have access to the billing system and there is not much I can do beyond that.”
The office of the Ombudsman in the City of Johannesburg confirmed the receipt of Jacobsen’s complaint on June 17 this year.
Johannesburg Water did not respond to questions sent by the Fourways Review.
