Durban North residents urged to join forces on billing discrepancies
Also read: Residents live in fear after crash takes out uMhlanga boundary wall
Sam Reddy, deputy chairperson of the Glen Hills/Glen Anil Ratepayers Association and the interim deputy chairperson of the Durban North Residents' and Ratepayers' Association, and Johann van den Berg, who's in charge of the water portfolio in the Ward 36 Residents' Forum, have teamed up to create a paper trail of affected residents in an effort to push the eThekwini Municipality to address the widespread issue of estimated billing.
'This is not just one or two isolated cases. We are seeing estimation upon estimation for months at a time. In some instances, residents are being charged over R12 000 based on estimates, without a single actual meter reading. That's against the Municipal Finance Management Act. If there's no reading, they shouldn't be billing,' said Reddy.
According to residents, estimated usage is being carried over for up to six months, with no clear calculation method, leading many to believe the figures are being 'thumb-sucked'.
'We need to formalise this. We're setting up a WhatsApp channel where residents can report their estimated bills and receive dispute forms. Once those are completed, we'll submit them to the councillors and escalate the matter. The more people who do this, the clearer the scope of the problem becomes,' said Van den Berg.
One case saw an emergency electricity charge of R8 291.79 applied over 54 days, with the following month's bill totaling R13 061, both based on estimates.
Residents are also facing penalties and interest charges on these disputed amounts, adding further financial strain.
'We're seeking legal advice, but in the meantime, residents must act. Councillors are doing their best, but they need the numbers to gain leverage. This isn't just a Durban North issue; this is happening across the city,' Reddy added.
Van den Berg echoed the call for action: 'This is about transparency and accountability. The only way to get the municipality to take this seriously is to show just how many people are being affected. A collective voice has power.'
Residents are encouraged to report their cases via WhatsApp to 069 830 8989. A dispute form will then be circulated — one form per month — to build a comprehensive record.
For more information email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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