Waterless crèche in Betrams keeps struggling

The day care centre, situated on number 29 Derby Road, has been trying in vain to have their water supply restored, as water is an essential part of how the crèche is run.

Parents of the children have had to bring their own buckets of water when bringing their children to school in the morning. The owner of the crèche, Ms Lindi Lize, has gone to great lengths to explain the situation to the parents.

“I’ve called numerous meetings to explain the situation to them and they have been understanding,” said Ms Lize. The crèche looks after 43 children from in and around Betrams. She claims she has been over-billed since 2008 and has been sent from pillar to post in her attempt to get to the bottom of the matter.

Even though her water meter was removed in 2007, she still received bills.

“I was billed and told those were estimates,” said Ms Lize.

She even put together a petition and sent it to the petitions office at Thuso House, where the City’s billing department is based. In 2010 she was told that her initial bill of R90 000 had been brought down to R45 000.

“I have even sent a letter to the Human Rights Commission in the hope of getting a solution to this matter,” said Ms Lize. She says despite paying her water bill at the end of every month, the amount on her statement is never reduced. She added that every time she complained about the matter she was never given a reference number.

“This matter has gone on for long enough, the City keeps assigning new people to deal with the matter and that takes the process backwards, because the new people need to familiarise themselves with the facts,” concluded a dejected Ms Lize.

The EXPRESS made several attempts to get comment from Ms Dudu Lushaba from City of Joburg. The EXPRESS was told that she is on leave. The EXPRESS sent an enquiry to Mr Nthatisi Modingoane from CoJ. No comment had been received at the time of going to print.