A Mayberry Park pensioner says he has spent months trying to resolve a disputed municipal water account that blew up to nearly R30 000, despite regularly checking with the City of Ekurhuleni and being assured that no money was owed.

Eddie Dalziel, who lives in Mayberry Park, said he and his family are indigent beneficiaries and SASSA pensioners who have always closely monitored their municipal account.

According to Dalziel, he visited Ekurhuleni offices monthly to enquire whether any payments were required on her water account.

“Every time I was told that all is fine and we owe nothing,” he said.

The situation changed dramatically in December 2025 when the family returned home from a funeral to find a pre-termination notice advising that their account was in arrears by R23 966.29 and that their services could be disconnected.

Shocked by the notice, Dalziel said he immediately visited municipal offices and the Water Department to determine how the account had accumulated such a large balance.

During the process, he was advised to check his water meter. He discovered that the meter continued running even when no water was being used.

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“Since then, we closed the meter and only opened it when we needed water,” he explained.

Municipal officials later inspected the property and informed the family that a leak existed within the property boundary.

With assistance from their household insurance, a leak detection assessment was conducted, and repairs were completed on February 12.

Dalziel said the reduced water usage after December indicated that the leak had been contributing significantly to the high consumption.

He also reported a separate leak at the municipal meter, which he claims took several months to repair due to a municipal backlog.

According to municipal statements seen by the family, the account showed a zero-water balance in October, then increased to R23 966 in December.

By April, the water-related amount had reportedly risen to R29 482.

Despite the repairs being completed several months ago, Dalziel said he continues to make weekly visits to municipal offices seeking an adjustment to the account.

“Since then, we went to offices every week to see if the amount had been taken off, as we were told, but no luck, just stories and promises,” he said.

He described being referred between various officials and departments while the account’s interest continued to accumulate.

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Dalziel said one official repeatedly assured her that the matter would be resolved and that he would receive a call, but weeks passed without any update.

Eventually, he was directed to municipal official Sibongile Tolbart, whom he described as helpful in guiding him through the process.

However, further delays reportedly occurred when he was required to obtain a memo from the Water Department confirming details of the repairs and the reference numbers.

The resident said repeated attempts to obtain updates by telephone were unsuccessful and that he was repeatedly instructed to wait additional weeks while the matter remained unresolved.

Councillor assistance

Ward councillor Samantha Nair became involved after the family sought assistance.

Communication between Nair and the resident shows that service requests were logged with the city regarding the water meter and a reported leak.

One case reference was opened on December 8, 2025, and another on December 17, 2025, both relating to a water leak on the main line at the property.

Nair regularly updated the resident on engagements with municipal managers, meter teams and department heads.

In one message, she stated that the matter had been escalated to management and described the delays as “unacceptable”.

She also advised the resident to query the account with the Finance Department and noted a backlog in processing indigent and debt rehabilitation applications, adding that the city was in the process of writing off R2.4b in debt owed by residents and businesses.

She reassured the resident that the application was on the system and that officials were working through the backlog.

City to respond

The Alberton Record sent an enquiry to the City of Ekurhuleni requesting comment on Dalziel’s account, the status of the leak adjustment application, and the delays experienced in resolving the matter.

At the time of publication, no response had been received.

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