COCT - THE CITY THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU !!!

The City of Cape Town claims that my electricity account is in arrears – a matter which I have attempted to resolve for well over a year. I have been misled and **** to and have exhausted every avenue searching for explanations. In November 2019 I received a billing of just over R 13 000-00 from the Municipality – an amount which has somehow escalated to R 17 000-00 since then. Numerous visits to both Plumstead and Fish Hoek Municipal offices to resolve this problem only confirmed the incompetence and lack of will by the various officials, to resolve my concerns. I was informed by a Plumstead Consultant that it was on record that my meter readings could not be taken, as there was no access to my property and it was for this reason that all readings over the past months were Estimates. The fact that this was on record confirms the extent of the deceit and lies the Municipality will go to in order to validate their actions. My property has no entrance gate, nor a driveway gate and only a knee high wall on its boundary. The electricity meter box can be clearly seen mounted on the wall of my house and there are no obstacles in the way to access it. I produced photos of the access and am still unable to get an answer as to why this lie was noted on their computer. The only response I received, was that I could arrange a payment to settle the amount they claimed I owe. I asked to speak to a senior Consultant and was then attended to by MS BIANCA MORKEL – she took all my particulars – dated and signed acknowledgement on my rates bill and promised to address my complaint “WITH A HOLLISTIC APPROACH”. She promised to get back to me within a couple of weeks. MORE THAN 15 MONTHS HAVE PASSED BY AND BIANCA MORKEL HAS STILL NOT RESPONDED. On 04 December 2019 I again visited the Plumstead Municipal Office and discussed my concerns with MS EDWARD – she was unable to explain the false report on their system regarding access to my property, but she did advise me to continue paying my rates and promised to follow up on my electricity issue. On 18 December 2019 I received a telephone call from MR RODRIGUES, who advised that he was to investigate my claim of a faulty meter. He asked me to turn all power off at the electricity meter box and check if the wheel was still turning. I did what he asked and took a video of the wheel as it continued to turn – I sent it to him and he acknowledged that there must be a problem with the meter. He then asked me to take a picture of the actual meter reading and forward it to him. On 01 January 2020 I received another call from MR RODRIGUES asking me to take another photo of the meter reading and forward it to him. On 11 January 2020 he again contacted me to take another photo of the meter which I forwarded to him and on 13 January 2020 I received a Whatsapp message from MR RODRIGUES asking me to stop sending photos. He acknowledged that there was a problem, as my average ACTUAL readings were constant at a daily usage of 19 kWh and noted that it was strange that there were such variations when ESTIMATES were done. On 03 March I returned to the Municipality to query the huge variations in the ESTIMATES – the consultant was obnoxious and rude and repeatedly told me to go and pay my bill. She said “there was nothing wrong with my meter and her computer was not wrong”. On 31 August 2020 I received mail from MR EDWIN THOMAS that the Municipality was going to remove my existing meter and replace it with a prepaid meter. This in itself seemed strange, considering that for years I had been trying to get them to install a prepaid meter, but it was refused. On 30 October 2020 I received mail from IC BUSINESS ADMINISTRATORS threatening to instruct the Sheriff to serve Court papers on me. I contacted the call centre number and requested to speak to one of the Directors – none were available and I asked them to place on record that I wanted them to speed up the process, so that I could finally approach the Court to seek relief. I RECEIVED NO FURTHER RESPONSE AND COULD ONLY ASSUME THAT THE MUNICIPALITY IS FEARFUL OF ANY LEGAL ACTION EXPOSING THEIR FAILURES TO PROPERLY SERVE THE PUBLIC. On 04 November 2020 a Technician attended my property and explained the benefits of the prepaid meter and told me that once the meter had been installed, I would be able to keep complete control of my consumption. I advised him that I was only prepared to have the meter installed once the ridiculous billing had been resolved. He promised that once the meter was in place, I would be starting afresh and the billing would revert back to a zero balance. On 24 November 2020 I received mail from MR TREVOR BLAKE – DIRECTOR OF REVENUE. He accused me of failing to apply for any of the City benefits and threatened to deduct a percentage of any electricity I purchased, to offset against arrears he claimed I owed. He completely ignored the many meetings I had at the Municipal offices and the false promises to properly investigate my concerns. THE INSTALLATION OF THE PREPAID METER WAS CLEARLY A **********LY PLANNED SCHEME TO ****** MONEY FROM ME. On 18 December 2020 I received mail from MR KHANZI of CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT requesting my Municipal account number for assistance. OVER A YEAR HAD PASSED BY AND NOW THE DEPARTMENT ASKS WHICH PROPERTY THEY ARE DEALING WITH. I am a Pensioner and together with my wife’s Pension, we receive a monthly amount of R3 720-00. The Municipality is aware of this, yet refuse to properly address my complaint. I purchase a weekly recharge amount of R 300-00 and this gives us 141.90kWh – an amount which lasts for 8 days. On 08 January 2020 I purchased R 300-00 of electricity and found that I had been given only 41 units. THE MUNICIPALITY SEES FIT TO DEDUCT R 213-00 FROM EVERY R 300-00 PURCHASE – THIS IS 71 PERCENT OF MY PAYMENT. On 19 January 2021 I was able to attend a meeting with COUNCILLOR PATRICIA FRANCKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE who was quite helpful in directing my complaint to the relevant Department. Initially I received a response from MS MICHELLE GERALDINE ANDREWS – ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN THE REVENUE OFFICE. As expected, the response began with a plea to accept her sincere apologies for the way in which my request had been dealt – followed by various other issues I have attempted to resolve over the years, but which the Department has failed to resolve. I was NOT addressing these issues in my complaint, but that of the electricity theft. I responded with a stern letter, to which I have still received no response. On 26 January 2021 I received mail from MS NICOLE LATEGAN - ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN REVENUE MANAGEMENT ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION. The mail I received was not only contradictory to previous mail, but more focussed on the usual insincere apologies and excuses to cover the failures of other colleagues in the Department. The investigation by MS NICOLE LATEGAN revealed the following: 1. Your account was ESTIMATED during April and June 2020 due to the National Lockdown – the City could not perform meter readings as it was not deemed an ESSENTIAL SERVICE. ONE WOULD EXPECT THE RECOVERY OF MONEY TO BE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO MAINTAIN SERVICE DELIVERY – VERY LITTLE OF WHICH WE SEE THESE DAYS. 2. Your account was underestimated during this period and thus when an ACTUAL reading was obtained, your account was higher than usual. ACCORDING TO THE MUNICIPAL RECORDS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY - HOW DID THE DEPARTMENT OBTAIN ACTUAL READINGS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A BILLING WHERE THE ESTIMATE IS LESS THAN THE ACTUAL READING – IN EVERY CASE IT HAS BEEN DOUBLE OR MORE. 3. A comparison between the average consumption billed on the previous meter and your electricity purchases on the prepaid meter has revealed your consumption in line and consistent on both meters. This indicates that it is very unlikely that the previous meter was faulty. A SECOND LETTER FROM MS NICOLE LATEGAN CLEARLY STATED THAT A METER CAN ONLY BE DECLARED FAULTY AFTER A CALLIBRATION TEST HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE TEST WOULD ONLY BE DONE VIA APPLICATION AND PAYMENT BY THE CUSTOMER – THIS WAS NEVER DONE, YET SHE CONCLUDES THAT THE PREVIOUS METER WAS NOT FAULTY. 4. A Technician visited your property in March 2020 and confirmed that the meter did stop turning when the power was turned off. The Technician stated on his job card that he advised you that you may apply for the meter to be tested – to date the City had not received an application for a meter test. CONTRADICTION: Upon removal of the old meter and its arrival at the City Lab, the Technician who inspected the meter had also not found a fault with it. APART FROM THE RECORDS SHOWING THAT MY PROPERTY COULD NOT BE ACCESSED, IT IS A TOTAL FABRICATION THAT A TECHNICIAN VISITED MY PROPERTY – I WAS ALSO NOT CONFRONTED BY ANYONE, NOR ADVISED TO APPLY FOR A METER CALLIBRATION TEST. 5. When I referred to the consumption on the old meter and the new meter being consistent, I was referring to the consumption and not the Rand value. Your daily average on the new meter, as well as on the old meter during the summer period is 19kWh. I AM A PENSIONER AND HAVE TO BUDGET – HENCE I CALCULATE EVERYTHING IN RANDS. I FAIL TO SEE THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS COMMENT, AS REGARDLESS OF KwH or Rands – the one equates to the other. THE FACT THAT BOTH METERS WERE CONSISTENT AT AVERAGE 19kWh MUST SURELY SHOW THE INACURACIES OF THE ESTIMATION – IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE AND I TO USE R 16 000 OF ELECTRICITY IN THREE MONTHS, UNLESS THE MUNICIPALITY CONTINUES ******ING 71 PERCENT FROM MY PAYMENTS. 6. The City’s stance remains unchanged and that your account is correct. Should you be dissatisfied by the above findings, you are welcome to raise your concerns with the City Ombudsman. SUCH ARROGANCE IS DEPLORABLE – MS NICOLE LATEGAN IS FULLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS FOR THE OMBUDSMAN TO ADDRESS A COMPLAINT AND IN THIS TIME SHE WILL HAVE CRIPPLED ME FINANCIALLY. I DID APPROACH THE CITY OMBUDSMAN ON 09 JANUARY 2021 AND STILL AWAIT A RESPONSE.

IN PREVIOUS MAIL TO BOTH MS GERALDINE ANDREWS AND MS NICOLE LATEGAN, I DEMANDED ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING: 1. THE MUNICIPAL BY LAWS ARE VERY CLEAR IN THAT ELECTRICITY MAY NOT BE CUT WHILST A COMPLAINT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION – WHY HAVE THEY IGNORED THIS BY LAW? 2. WHAT GIVES THE MUNICIPALITY THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE MY MUNICIPAL AND CONSTUTIONAL RIGHTS AS A TAX PAYING CITIZEN AND PENSIONER AND DEPRIVE ME OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH I HAVE A RIGHT? 3. WHAT GIVES THE MUNICIPALITY THE RIGHT TO DICTATE WHAT PERCENTAGE THEY CAN DEDUCT FROM MY PAYMENTS TOWARD A SERVICE WITH NO REGARD TOWARD THE DAMAGE IT MAY CAUSE – THIS IS ********** AND *******? 4. WHY HAS THE DEPARTMENT NOT CLARIFIED WHY THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF A FAULT BY MR RODRIGUES HAS BEEN IGNORED – YET WITHOUT ANY PROPER TESTING OF THE METER MS LATEGAN STATES THAT THEIR ACTIONS ARE CORRECT? 5. WHY WHEN I APPROACHED THE MUNICIPALITY WAS I TOLD THAT YOUR FIELD STAFF WERE UNABLE TO ACCESS MY PROPERTY AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO MY METER BOX – WHEN I PRODUCED PHOTOS OF MY ELECTRIC BOX AS SEEN FROM THE ROAD, AS WELL AS PHOTOS TAKEN OF MY PROPERTY ENTRANCE FROM NEXT TO THE METER BOX WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS NO GATE AND FREE ACCESS AND THEY WERE SHOWN TO MS EDWARD – SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THE EASY ACCESS? 6. WHY HAS IT TAKEN MORE THAN A YEAR TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM MS MORKEL AND I AM STILL WAITING – YET YOU SEE FIT TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR HER LACK OF RESPONSE? 7. WHY WAS IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL METER IF – AS YOU CLAIM – THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT? This has been an ongoing issue for over a year with the complaint being passed from one Department to the next. I have been misinformed and **** to over this time, with no explanation. The Municipality feels that they have Carte Blanche to dictate to the Public and feel that they can juggle Public funds around to suit themselves. The issue of ESTIMATES is nothing more than an excuse for the Municipality to overcharge on Public accounts – probably to pull in extra monies to bulk up their coffers. It is unacceptable and abusive that the Municipality sees fit to abuse personal savings of the Public – more so, the savings of the elderly and low income groups, with little regard toward their personal situations.