City to investigate high estimation on water meter
ORANGE GROVE – City of Joburg customers with legitimate queries still need to pay for other services rendered.
The City of Joburg will investigate the high estimation on a water meter at an Orange Grove property.
This after the North Eastern Tribune published Nico Botha’s article about his faulty water meter which has given the pensioner sleepless nights.
Botha said on 29 June that the City had threatened to cut off his services because he owes over R200 000, even though his meter is faulty. He said that he had reported the meter to the authorities but it was never attended to, even after he personally visited the Sandton municipal office, who promised they would go to his home and fix it.
According to the 63-year-old resident of 10th Avenue, the municipality, instead, continues to send him estimated statements and not the actual statement with accurate readings.
Last year, Botha had to pay R3 000 for the City to restore his water supply after they cut off his services. The money came from his pension fund.
Responding to queries sent by the Tribune to the spokesperson, Kgamanyane Maphologela, said the City will send its meter reader to the property for further investigation. “The City’s initial investigation last August discovered that there was a leaking water meter at the property,” he said.
“This meter was subsequently fixed and we now want to investigate what gave rise to the high water estimation. The City will continue to give feedback to the customer as the investigation unfolds.”
Maphologela said that if a customer has a query about one of its services, it was still the customer’s responsibility to continue to pay for other services rendered.
“Whilst the customer may still have a legitimate query which the City is dealing with, they must continue to pay for other services consumed to avoid credit control,” said Maphologela.
Details: www.joburg.org.za
