ESTCOURT KZN: uThukela debt collection programme angers resident
"They said they would be placing a 'chip' in the water pipe to restrict the flow, because my account was in arrears"
A Forderville resident was taken aback on Monday (March 15) when a team of ‘aggressive’ men entered her yard to restrict water flow to the home due to non-payment on her uThukela District Municipality water account. The resident, who did not want to be named, said that the group of between six and eight men informed her that they were contractors appointed by the district municipality.
“They said they would be placing a ‘chip’ in the water pipe to restrict the flow, because my account was in arrears. The men did not have any identification and the vehicle they were driving had Limpopo registration plates, so there was no way of telling if they were from uThukela District Municipality,” said the resident.
The men then set about digging up the concrete around the water meter in order to install the water restricting device, which the resident says caused damage to her property.
“One of the men broke the fitting from the water meter. He was so rough and just yanked it out. There was no need for such a violent approach,” said the resident.
After more than three hours, the men departed and the resident was left with more questions.
“Are residents aware that the district municipality is restricting water to those who haven’t paid their accounts? We are getting mixed messages; people are saying not to pay our accounts, but now we are inconvenienced. I also went to the local uThukela office twice to get forms to make payment arrangements, but they don’t have any, so how are we meant to pay?” questioned the resident.
ALSO READ: Forderville residents plea for a water transformation
Glen Singh from uThukela said that residents had been informed via an advert in the Estcourt News dated February 26, 2021, that Marothodi Metsi (Pty) Ltd had been appointed as a service provider to carry out debt collection and requested that the public co-operate with field workers. He refuted the claim that the team did not have identification.
“The resident was served a notice prior to the team visiting, so she was aware. As far as damage to the property, the pipe was repaired by the contractor, out of good faith; it did not have to be done. As the team will be visiting more properties, residents must realise that we have the right to access our property at any time. There will be a lot of grumbling from residents as we embark on this programme,” commented Mr Singh.
He committed to ensuring that documentation for payment arrangements would be available at the uThukela satellite office, which he later confirmed.
Mr Singh warned residents against threatening field workers that request entrance to properties.
“Earlier this afternoon (March 16), a group of people pushed the field workers into a corner and intimidated them. They also report that people are refusing to allow them into their property. Residents must be warned that this behaviour will be dealt with using the full might of the law,” he commented.
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