My mother's water was disconnected without her receiving a Notice letter

My 76 year old mother's water was disconnected without her having received a notice letter or someone coming in and making her aware that the water was being disconnected.

I have contacted the city's accounts department on 24 August 2021, the person confirmed the first notice letter was issued on 19 August 2021 my reference number ***. My mother's account number is *** and efr number 101183.

I wrote an email to the premier's and mayor's office , the mayor's office requested the department to respond to my email. Up till today 08 September 2021 I have not received and responce nor did my mother received the notice letter.

Pre-Termination Notices

The law provides that a municipality must give the consumer (and the owner of the property, if the consumer of the services at the property is not the owner) a minimum of 14 days written notice of termination of the supply of electricity and water. If this notice is not given to the occupants of the property (and the owner, if the owner is not the same as the occupant) at all then the disconnection is *******.

Furthermore, if less than 14 days has elapsed between the date of delivery of the pre-termination notice and the date of disconnection, then similarly the disconnection is *******.

The purpose of giving a person 14 days is to allow that person to respond to the municipality within that time and to raise any disputes about the charges that are purportedly owing, or alternatively to allow the responsible person to make payment of the arrears or make other payment arrangements with the municipality such as by entering into an instalment payment plan. If a consumer is denied this opportunity, then this is a violation of that person’s rights in terms of our administrative law and Constitution and the disconnection is accordingly ********.