Ms Nkosingiphile Mngadi (66), a pensioner from Tasbet Park 1 said she received a message on Wednesday, February 27 from the municipality saying that she owes, R14 000.
“Initially it was R5 000, I paid half of it because I could not afford to pay the whole amount. Thereafter it increased the following month to R6 000, then jumped R7 000 to R8 000, from there the rates escalated to R11 000. I am unemployed and my child here is supposed to be at school, how am I going to take her with this high water expense” she explained.
Gogo Mngadi said she called the municipality to explain how come her water rates are high and they asked if she had a leakage.
“I did show them when they came to attend my plea someday where it was leaking. I had a pipeline in the other room, but I did replace the pipeline last month; still, nothing changed it deteriorated instead.”
Mngadi found herself along with her family resorting to making use of a bathing dish instead of the bath tab, to try saving water, but that did not do them any justice.
“I decided to call the ward councillor, but she redirected me straight to the municipality. Upon my arrival, I was told I couldn’t speak to the municipal manager as she cannot be seen; I tried explaining that I was referred to the municipality by the ward councillor. This was so confusing to me, why am I not allowed to see her?”
Gogo Mngadi said the problem with the municipality is they estimate the readings instead of calculating them.
“Whenever they came here, they just press their gadgets you wouldn’t know what they are doing. Thereafter the statement comes stating with a lot of money.”
In August last year, director of technical services, Mr Mike Lelaka admitted during a community meeting that there is no pressure to relieve valves in the waterworks in eMalahleni.
He said the municipality has to accommodate residents whose accounts are higher than usual.
“We have to adjust those accounts,” Lelaka said.
Furthermore, Lelaka advised the residents with abnormal high water accounts to go to the municipality where they will be assisted and their accounts rectified.
