“Desperate” of Fairleads writes by email:
Early last year, Ekurhuleni cut power to my Fairleads premises for a R362 debt that was paid one day late.
I have a second premises in Rynfield Extension 18,which is rented out to tenants.
I am in the process of evicting these tenants for non-payment of rental due.
During this process,I have investigated the Ekurhuleni water and lights bill on this rented property,in order to make arrangements for new tenants moving in.
I am sure you can imagine my horror on finding that the tenants have racked up an outstanding water and lights bill in access of R49 000 over the past two years.
I went through to the “disconnections department” at Ekurhuleni,wanting to know why they had not been disconnected?
Why had I not been contacted regarding this debt?
How can Ekurhuleni continue to supply power with a valid,outstanding debt such as this?
As with any government department, I got a 100 stories and no answers.
I proved that I was the legal owner of the premises and signed a letter instructing them to disconnect all power immediately.
They assured me this would be done. Well it hasn’t.
My unscrupulous tenants,who have not paid rent nor settled a massive municipal debt, continue to live in my house enjoying “free” electricity, and I am at the end of my tether.
Just another example of how this country seems to favour the criminals while the law- abiding citizens continue to take the brunt of all that is not well.
