Accused Joburg Water employee speaks out about Randpark Ridge bribe
Joburg Water also says it will investigate the incident as it has taken it seriously.
The Johannesburg Water employee accused of taking a R1 000 bribe from Randpark Ridge residents to do his job, and then asking for a cool drink to do another, denies this.
The man, whose name is known by Randburg Sun but will not be published unless the matter goes to court, told this publication he had not worked in the area this year. “Sometimes people give us R50 or something after we do a job but I have never asked for anything,” he claimed.
However, immediately after speaking to this publication, the man apparently phoned resident Matthew Dyball and accused him and his wife of starting trouble for him. This despite not being told who had accused him or how to contact them.
“I didn’t want to get him into trouble, he seemed like a nice guy,” Matthew said but explained he had to report the incident while trying to have his electricity reconnected.
Matthew and his wife Debby received an erroneous R50 000 bill following a water pipe burst outside their home, which a Joburg Water team repaired, as is the procedure. But before the team did so, the employee allegedly demanded R1 000 to do the job, which the couple gave in to though there was no receipt and they knew it should have been done for free.
The bill for the wasted water was erroneously charged to the residents, and they are still having this reversed on their municipal account.
Also read: Randpark Ridge couple goes 9 days without electricity because they would not pay a bribe
The Dyballs did not pay this exorbitant fee and had their electricity disconnected for nine days. During this time, the same employee apparently told them he could replace their water meter so that it would reverse the value of the amount of water used, and he would only do this for a ‘can of coke’.
Joburg Water spokesperson Nolwazi Dhlamini said these allegations would be investigated.
“Residents should immediately report Johannesburg Water employees or contractors who try to solicit bribes from them,” she said. “Johannesburg Water has strict policies in place regarding bribery. Johannesburg Water will issue a notice to investigate and contact the customer for more information.”
At the time of going to print, however, the Dyballs have still not been contacted by Johannesburg Water.
Dhlamini added, “If possible, get the names and numbers of the solicitor[s], take a photo of them and their vehicle registration number. Residents can report to our Johannesburg Water Tip-Offs Anonymous Hotline: Email anticorruption@tip-offs.com; toll-free number 0800 00 25 87; SMS 32840. These are available in all official languages 24/7.”
