So now we are back to square one.
My previous letter in which I complained that I had a blocked drain and the municipality said it was not their responsibility, was published. Eventually, we got some joy, but it was very short-lived.
I was told, again, it is an internal problem (mine). Once I confronted one of the managers the response was: “I was not on the premises and cannot give my input,” even after I explained that 13 rods (approximately 26 metres) had been pushed down the drain.
I told the manager that I have an eight-month-old baby and all hell would break loose were my child to get sick because of this. Fortunately, my phone records every single call, as does my e-mail system.
Another issue that I wish to raise is the street lights that are out on Letaba, Ifafa and Illovo streets. They have been out for more than two years already.
How does the EMM (Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality) want to fight crime if they leave street lights off? That is just a question to start with.
EMM quickly cuts your water or electricity if you do not pay them for the service. We pay for sewerage, we pay for water, we pay rates and taxes and soon we will probably have to pay for the ground beneath us.
When we need service, however, the response is as follows: “Not my problem, sir.”
I noted that EMM – Themba Gadebe (spokesperson) responded with: “This is a private blockage and not council responsibility. This was communicated to the complainant and a senior official visited the site to explain it to the consumer.”
Clearly, Mr Gadebe did not understand what I meant when I said: “They previously used nine rods of 18m to try to clear the blockage.” Obviously, the problem is not with my property. Furthermore, he did not even give an apology for the lack of service and so I invited him to come out here to explain the situation to us.
Have the EMM ever thought that a pipe might be broken – since they have been down there for over 30 years – or that the roots of trees could be the problem? Have they even given it a thought? Since this pipe runs underneath other people’s yards, could someone please explain why it is an “internal” issue? My wish is to make this problem public so this won’t happen again.
Frustrated
The response from EMM was as follows:
“The water meter will be replaced and uploaded on the account by Thursday, June 8. The client has not been charged for water since the meter got stuck in December 2016.
Once the new meter is installed, the finance department will charge the client “average usage” charge the for the months the consumer was not billed for water,” and Themba Gadebe, EMM spokesperson stated: “A total of 38 street lights were replaced in Illovo and Letaba streets,”
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