Billing mistake of Lekwa runs into thousands
Kriel has been trying the past week to get an appointment with the executive mayor, Delani Louis Thabethe and the 08:00 appointment on Thursday, October 13 was cancelled.
A billing mistake on the part of the Lekwa Municipality is costing residents thousands of rands. According to Belinda Kriel, she has been trying unsuccessfully to have the problem sorted out.
The Standerton Advertiser paid a visit to the Kriels on Thursday, October 13. Kriel drives from Vanderbijlpark to Standerton and stays a week to schedule an appointment with the powers to be.
The townhouse in Paarl Street has been subdivided 10 years ago and the municipality sent a letter to say that no basic water, electricity and refuse removal charges were accounted for.
According to Kriel, they admitted their mistake. The Kriels have been paying their accounts faithfully and were of the opinion that it should be considered a historical debt, to be written off.
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According to Kriel, policy dictates that debt can be written off after three years. Amounts such as R17 000 and R21 000 for two units respectively have to be paid.
Kriel has been trying the past week to get an appointment with the executive mayor, Delani Louis Thabethe, and the 08:00 appointment on Thursday, October 13 was cancelled at the last minute.
The family said the mayor and Sipho Mkhwanazi, a manager, have promised in the past to rectify the accounts.
She also said the selling of the townhouses can’t go through since clearance certificates can’t be issued. The house in Paarl Street furthermore, has had a borehole for the past four years and yet, they are charged for water use.
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According to Kriels, the account reflects 57 water units monthly. The family was adamant that it should be made possible to buy pre-paid electricity on a card and not only with cash.
At this stage, only one national retail shop in town allows consumers to buy pre-paid on a card. Walking with cash in your pocket has its own pitfalls was commented.
Kriel is a member of the ANC, on the branch executive committee at Vanderbijlpark, Sanco’s zonal chairperson and organiser and is nominated for a position as MEC.
“If I, with my contacts, can’t resolve a problem such as this, how on earth will the man in the street fare?” she concluded.
The Standerton Advertiser sent a WhatsApp message to Thando Nkosi, communications officer at Lekwa, on October 13 at 15:20. The problem was briefly outlined and comments were requested.
