“City Power inspector can rest here”

Van Rensburg had his neighbours and all passers-by know exactly how angry he is at the inspectors who allegedly damaged the main gate to his house by creating a life-sized display in his driveway. This display includes a coffin and signage listing his grievances with City Power.

“Two of your employees (meter readers) driving a silver Hyundai damaged my gate by knocking with a brick for attention,” his sign reads.

It includes the vehicle’s registration number (DL 56 MG GP) and the date and time of the incident (Thursday 5 February at about 12.45pm).

Van Rensburg, who invited the record to photograph the display, said the damaged gate was the final straw for him in a stretched-out battle with the municipality.

Mid last year he changed his system to prepaid electricity and to date it is not registered under his name. He told the record he has had at least five visits from inspectors over the past few months who take photographs and notes at his house to apparently complete the registration. When Van Rensburg didn’t open the gate for unexpected visitors on Thursday afternoon, the two inspectors allegedly took bricks and banged on his gate to gain entry, damaging it. He chased them away.

The coffin he bought for himself but decided it better as a warning sign outside his gate.

“I will put that man who damaged my gate in it,” he said.

He expects City Power to pay for repairs to this gate and alleged he lost out on profits during the hours he spent to repair it.

“They should compensate me for it,” he said, “they owe me R20 000.”

City Power was not available for comment by the time of going to print.