Joburg council subpoenaed on slow response to complaints

The Gauteng Legislature has subpoenaed the Speaker of the City of Johannesburg to account for the municipality's inability to respond to service delivery complaints lodged more than a year ago.

"We're absolutely disappointed with the City of Joburg. Only housing (officials) came (to the meeting), but there are demands about water, electricity and community safety," said standing committee on petitions committee chairman Jacob Khawe.

He said many of the petitions were made as far back as January last year. The council had attended meetings since then, but had failed to deal with the issues. Council officials were present at yesterday's meeting about service delivery problems in southern Joburg, but they could not provide clear answers or solutions. The committee did not accept an SMS sent by one of the directors, promising that the council was working on the electricity problems in Orange Farm.

One of the petitioners, Lindy Lize of Bertrams, complained to the committee that she had been overcharged more than R120 000 by the council for services she had not used. Lize said the overcharging started in 2007, when her municipal account was R7 000. Her electricity bill rose to R8 000 by November of that year, and City Power disconnected her account. Since then she had been without electricity, yet had still been charged. Her bill was now about R30 000.

Khawe said the City of Joburg had been asked to visit Lize's property to determine if there had been a leakage. "But instead they sent a letter, saying she should call the call centre."

He said the committee would refer its concerns to mayor Amos Masondo and subpoena Speaker Nkele Ntingane to report on the matter.

Ntingane could not be reached for comment.

There was also little joy for complainants from Lawley Station and Stretford Extension 3 in Orange Farm, who had asked the council to put in traffic-calming measures, an improved sewerage system, tarred roads and a clinic.

The Star

Posted at 09:54AM Sep 02, 2010 by Editor in Cities and Towns  |  Comments[6]