Tale of 2 Cities or 50 shades of service

<p>My wife , daughter and myself live in Vanguard Estate , Athlone ( a former "coloured " middleclass neighbourhood). In Mid April Electrical Cabling was done by the City on our property and they damaged the water piping and subsequently caused a huge leak. Ok these things happen but what happened next ? I got a huge water just under R5k ( normal account R90) I paid a plumber a fortune to fix the leak ...called the City Water Dept for six weeks in a row for assistance without response . Finally wrote to the Mayor whose Anvor Clayton promised me a solution within 7 days . After 10 days I emailed to remind him of his promise. I then got a em from Tracey Yiastes stating that I must get a prepaid water installed now and must apply for a rebate at a Council office...clearly too much trouble to assist the guy from Athlone....as for a prepaid water meter ???Would the City have responsed the same way if I lived in Constantia or Newlands..I don't think so. Also still waiting on a response from the Mayor's office and my Ward Councillor ..clearly they are too busy with the election to deal with complaints. And the City Ombusman does not exist ...only a myth as well ......that's my tale of 2 cities ...but an Election is almost upon us .. ..hey?</p>