AFTER a lots of confusion and queries regarding delays with residents not receiving their statements from the municipality, eThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo has written a public letter to explain the situation.
“I am writing this letter to clarify the confusion surrounding the billing system and wish to reassure all residents that eThekwini is dedicated to providing a high level of service to ratepayers.
EThekwini Municipality has moved to a new billing system with effect from Friday, 1 July.
However, the delays with residents receiving their bills are not related to the implementation of the new billing system. There were also delays in bills being posted and e-mailed. This matter has been addressed and residents should be receiving their bills timeously.
Contrary to media reports, the Revenue Management System (RMS) went live in January with more than 120 000 bills moved across to the new system without incident. Recently, a larger number of bills were moved across to the billing system and in order to accommodate the change, the June bills were run earlier than scheduled with the system closed down on June 15.
Residents are urged to take note that their July 2016 bill will include any consumption for the days that they were not billed for in June.
The varied amount in resident’s bills can be attributed to the bills being run earlier in June and is not an error in the crossing over to the RMS.
I wish to reiterate that bills with inaccurate amounts would not be sent to residents as the Municipality has rigorous internal processes in place to ensure all bills issued are accurate.
If residents have not received their bills, I encourage them to pay the same amount from their previous month’s bill in the interim.
Municipal staff are on hand to assist residents and have undergone training to efficiently assist the public during the changeover. We appeal to residents for patience during this time and reassure them that we are committed to delivering an effective service.
It is important to note that there are a number of alternative options available for residents to view their bills. You can register online under the Municipality’s e-Services application (www.durban.gov.za) and view your bill. Once registered online you can opt to receive your bill by e-mail. You can also download the Municipal app to view your bill. There is also the option to pay your account by direct debit. You can indicate the maximum amount to be deducted monthly.
It is also important for residents to be aware of revised Municipal tariff increases effective from 1 July 2016. This will also be reflected in their July bills. Residents need to bear in mind that usage of utilities during the winter months also increase as residents leave their lights on for longer periods and have longer showers. This increased winter consumption will also result in slightly higher bills.
During the past five years, our Municipality has achieved a renewed adherence to good governance, ensuring that, in our pursuit of service delivery, we ensure absolute compliance with legislation.
We remain committed to providing an efficient service to all residents and wish to continue to openly engage with ratepayers over any issues of concern.
We would like to thank consumers for their patience and understanding during this time.”
