How can we live with such an ineffective system of non-information?

I started renovating my cbd apartment beginning June 2018. One of the changes I was hoping to achieve was to upgrade my prepaid electricity meter box which seems outdated old and ugly compared to the complex I was living in 3 blocks away. When I mentioned this to my electrician, he said that he was not allowed to touch it since that is City of Cape Town domain. I then send email to the City of Cape Town electricity and waited for two weeks without any response at all. Next step was to call them. I was referred to independent contractor who sent me back to the City since I was not on his list of upgrades. After numerous back and forth calls trying to find out what the process is I was referred to the Civic Center. On arrival at the Civic Center and waiting in ques for hours I was given a form with some fields that needed to be filled out by my electrician. Few days later I am back at Civic Center with all fields filled out. Another few hours of wait just to be told that I need permission from the body corporate. Back I went and got the required permission. Another few hours in ques just to be told I need the IDs of body corporate members. At this point I lost all reason at it is impossible to get proper information on the process and a list of all documentation needed. Eventually my form was accepted and I received a reference number. I felt elated and though the process is finally moving along. 2 Weeks later I called the City of Cape Town support center to hear how far along the process is since I urgently need this to happen while contractors for renovation was still on site. I was told that they don't have my reference number online and I need to go back to Civic Center. I already lost days of productive work sitting in ques. I finally manage to get a quotation document via the City of Cape Town's Facebook help center. All I need to do is to make the R2 112 payment. The Contact person on the quotation form, Eunice Lugalo told me it would be best to pay in cash at the Civic Center itself in order to speed up the process. Reluctantly I did so and made cash payment on 3 July 2018. At last I thought all is done and the contact person inspector Bandi can send his men over to my place to install the new prepaid box. When I called him to make arrangements I was told that my electrician first need to do some adjustments according to point 8 on the form. This could cost another R2000 to R3000. Exasperated but desperate I called my electrician to get a quotation from him. A day later he called me back to inform me that the City of Cape Town does not install any other prepaid boxed other than the ugly outdated one I already have. I sent photographs of the modern box I have in my current location. It is a mystery how some properties can have slim modern boxes while others have to be stuck with bulky ugly grey boxes, regardless that you willing to pay premium for this luxury. I finally excepted defeat but what about the R2 112 I already paid? It seems like it will be another hellish up and down running to and from the Civic Center to get the money back. I simply do not have the time, energy or will power to go through this process again. Thus the City of Cape Town by their lack of information taken R2 112 from me. I hope it will be noted that this money is not a gift I willfully make but just a symbol of the shear exhaustion of a defunct ineffective system I don't have the time or energy to fight anymore. Well done Cape Town!