Vryheid residents outraged over inflated municipal utility bills
Many have raised concerns about unexplained and seemingly incorrect charges added to their accounts. Among the most common complaints is a charge for 'added sewage', with units exactly matching water consumption figures.
Some residents were stunned to find a R113 charge for a borehole on their bill, even though they do not have one.
However, the most frustration has been directed at the exorbitant increase in domestic electricity tariffs and the widespread confusion over the extra charges appearing on bills.
One resident told the Herald that the bill was the highest she had received in over 30 years of living in the same house.
'The account shot up almost R2000 compared to my June bill – how is this even possible?'
The Vryheid Herald reached out to the municipality for clarification on the new tariffs and additional charges, but at the time of going to press, there had been no response.
In an interview with the Herald, Marlaine Nair, Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Portfolio Committee, urged residents to make use of the municipality's dispute resolution mechanism if they believe their utility bills are incorrect.
'Residents should first raise concerns formally with the municipality or contact their ward councillor, who can escalate the matter on their behalf,' she advised.
'Should those avenues fail, residents can start a petition and hand it to the mayor. If no action is taken, the next step is to submit the petition to the legislature speaker for consideration by the Petition Committee.'
She added that residents and councillors can also write directly to the MEC of Cogta to request an investigation into possible malpractice or corruption.
'Stakeholders can even write to me directly,' said Nair. 'My only request is that residents first exhaust all internal channels within the municipality before escalating the matter to the provincial level.'
Meanwhile, representatives of the Ratepayers Association have tried to schedule a meeting with the municipality to demand clarity and accountability. Unfortunately, by the time of going to print, no further information was available.
There are also moves afoot to mobilise residents into formal disputes over their utility accounts.
Residents have been advised by the organisers to complete dispute letters and email them directly to the email address below.
Following the steep increase in tariffs, prepaid electricity users are also urged to file disputes.
A sample dispute letter—based on an article titled 'How to effectively dispute and rectify municipal billing discrepancies' (Daily Maverick, February 1, 2024)—is available on the AbaQulusi Ratepayers WhatsApp group.
For those needing assistance, Chantell Els of Pixelation Photo Lab & Studio has offered to print, scan and email documents free of charge. Donations as a token of appreciation are welcome.
Responding to the outcry, Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum's Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed that the organisation is actively addressing the matter.
'AfriForum is currently busy with the issue,' Van Aswegen said. 'We will take the necessary steps to ensure the municipality is held accountable and transparent about the processes that were followed.'
How to lodge a dispute:
Residents who wish to challenge the charges on their municipal accounts can do so by submitting a formal dispute letter. Here's how:
Prepaid electricity users:
Use your prepaid account number, not the card number.
This number is 11 digits long, typically starting with 04 and ending with 81.'
Find it on your prepaid electricity slip after a purchase.
Alternatively, retrieve it by entering '00' or '100' on your prepaid device. (Note: Methods may vary depending on meter type.)
Conventional account holders (water, refuse, sewer, rates, etc.):
Use the account number as shown on your AbaQulusi Municipality statement.
Conventional account holders with prepaid electricity:
Include both your prepaid meter account number and your AbaQulusi municipal account number in the dispute letter.
Completed letters must be submitted via email to: [email protected]
ALSO READ: 967 homes to be electrified in AbaQulusi Municipality rollout
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
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