Cynthia Mkhwanazi, who is renting a house in Daggafontein and has no income, was shocked when she received a water and electricity bill from the metro, stating that she owes them R15 211.
“In 2013 we noticed a water leak underneath the house and reported it to the metro but they told me I must hire a plumber to fix the burst pipe,” Mkhwanazi says.
Mkhwanazi says she couldn’t afford a plumber and asked her brother to fix the leak. “It is still leaking a little and we cannot afford to get a plumber to fix it.”
Upon receiving the bill, Mkhwanazi claims she made arrangements with the metro where she was reportedly told that she only needs to pay half the amount owed.
“That very same month I made a payment of R4 000, but it doesn’t reflect on my new statements, I used my last money to pay them.”
Mkhwanazi and her family now live in a house with no electricity as the metro cut their power and requires her to pay the money owed before they will reconnect the electricity again.
“They told me I need to get hold of the owner, but he is somewhere in England and we don’t know how to get hold of him,” says a desperate Mkhwanazi.
Themba Gadebe, spokesman for the metro, says according to the metro’s policies and by-laws, in a case of exceptionally high meter readings of water consumption due to leaks inside a consumer’s yard, the director of the finance department may determine the excess consumption to be levied at a R9.49 lessor rate per kiloliter for a maximum of 91 days, the commencement date of such period to be determined at the director’s discretion.
“A reduction in consumption is required as well as proof of the leak being rectified as substantiated by a plumber’s invoice or affidavit from the consumer which must be submitted to the municipality within 90 days after the leak’s repair.”
According to Gadebe, it is the consumer’s responsibility to fix the pipe and it must be reported within 90 days.
“The consumer’s services account was in arrears in the amount of R15 211.24, the arrears amount must be paid before reconnection, if not, the owner must undertake to pay said amount. They are tenants paying rent to the owner, and should therefore have contact details of the owner such as a telephone number or e-mail address.”
Gadebe adds that they are not aware of the reported arrangement made between the metro and Mkhwanazi as it is contrary to the metro’s credit control and debt collection policy.
“The agreement may have been made with the debt collector, which was however not honoured, as no payments were made on the account,” Gadebe concludes.
