How accurate is the billing of municipal accounts in light of the current rash of exhorbitant increases?

THE City of Cape Town is generally regarded as the best municipality in the country. The incidence of certain basic deficiencies is therefore most disappointing.

How accurate is the current billing of municipal accounts?

More and more people are complaining of exorbitant increases in their monthly municipal accounts. This increase is due to “increased” water usage, the detail of which appears on account statements. It is especially this detail which serves as an indication that these cannot easily be accepted at face value. It is, for example, questionable how a house with five residents can suddenly use 9 000 litres more water per month. This increase, plus the usual average used, then remains the total average for every subsequent month. This is therefore not a once-off, isolated occurrence. Whereas such problems started out as isolated incidents, it seems that these are now becoming a trend.

Failure to pay accounts while objecting to this irregular water billing then results in a total shutdown of water supply to the property concerned.

Are current water meters perhaps faulty, resulting in incorrect readings? If affected ratepayers do not even spot any water leakages – which could also possibly explain this sustained increase in water usage attributed to their property – the most probable cause seems to be underground leaks which ratepayers have not caused, and neither are responsible to fix. How efficient is the City’s water management system and meters at detecting system problems such as leakage? How is smart technology used in this regard; to also ensure accurate meter readings? It seems that the outsourcing of many services by the City has negatively affected service delivery at various levels.

Officials handling ratepayers’ queries often send them from pillar to post, be it in person or telephonically. They often seem to be none the wiser. At any level of service, there are indeed those who lack the necessary knowledge and skills in order to successfully address the presenting problem. It is, however, expected of such officials to put ratepayers in touch with the relevant official at a higher level, who could assist them successfully. Will the municipality even compensate ratepayers where the City is found to be at fault?

G CONTALDI | Tafelsig