TZANEEN: No answer, definitely not the answer
Angry and frustrated residents from Tzaneen contacted Letaba Herald and complained about Tzaneen Municipality's landline number that doesn't work.
I conducted my own investigation into the matter not as a journalist but as a resident.
The process was quite disheartening as the number, 015 307 8000, rings but there is just no answer.
Say for instance, a pipe burst, there is water everywhere, I live on a farm and there is just no way to get hold of the relevant people telephonically.
What does one do?
I was about to give up when I resorted to Facebook and asked residents if they have an alternative number.
Basically, one resident could only help me with numbers for the power station.
Thursday afternoon I finally gave up and called the municipal spokesperson, Neville Ndlala, and asked him whether he can tell me what’s going on.
He told me he will let me know.
In the meantime, the next day I kept calling reception several times but to no avail.
Neville finally answered me on that Friday afternoon and told me that they are installing a new system.
It is unclear when exactly this new system will be working.
Neville has however, given a list of alternative numbers for the public to use until the new system is up and running.
For credit control: 015 307 8115/8133/8110.
Billing and meter readings: 015 307 8112/8117/8139
Licensing: 015 307 8326
Tzaneen Testing Grounds: 015 307 8340
Nkowankowa Testing Grounds: 015 306 8238
Human Resources: 015 307 8388
Mayor’s Office: 015 307 8007
Municipal Manager’s Office: 015 307 8246
Land: 015 307 8350
Housing: 015 307 8329
Civil Engineering: 015 307 8224
Building Plans: 015 307 8213
The alternative numbers for the municipality will be posted on their official Facebook page, according to Neville.
Neville also informed me that on their website, www.greatertzaneen.gov.za, people can find the alternative numbers under ‘contact us’.
Choose the option Office Contact, there is a search engine next to the word office.
Click on the relevant department and the numbers will show.
Side note* The whole experience wasn’t all bad though. When testing the power station number, January Ngobeni answered the phone and he was extremely helpful and friendly.
That was definitely a welcome surprise. Maybe get him to be receptionist if the system is up and running?
