Story of success at Riverside View service day
A Riverside View resident, who was previously saddled with an incorrect municipal bill of R1.2m, had the account reversed after seeking assistance from the City of Johannesburg during its open day.
A Riverside View resident, who once faced an incorrect municipal account of R1.2m, is among the success stories to emerge from a municipal service outreach hosted in Ward 96.
Ward 96 councillor Rufas Maswazi said the resident attended the city’s open day after previously having the billing dispute resolved, and returned to seek assistance with another municipal matter. “I was happy to receive one of the residents, who said to me, ‘I used to have a bill of R1.2m, which was now reversed through incorrect billing’.
“The bill was reversed, and it’s a success story. Now, the confidence is back. She came here to say, ‘I do have other issues again’, including a sewer rebate and wanting to benefit from the city’s expanded social package.”
Maswazi said stories like these demonstrate why taking municipal services directly into communities is so important. More than 60 residents attended the outreach at Riverside Square on August 4, seeking assistance with billing disputes, expanded social package (ESP) applications, and other municipal service-related enquiries. The turnout exceeded expectations, particularly as the event took place during the working week. “It’s quite surprising to us. We expected people to be at work, but it shows there is a real need for these services.”
Maswazi said many residents also used the opportunity to learn about the requirements for applying for the city’s ESP programme. “They did not know before, but now, because we are doing this kind of service here, they are able to apply and get answers from us.”
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Following the positive response, he said more outreach initiatives are planned, with the South African Social Security Agency and the department of home affairs expected to bring services to the community. “There are gogos here who are saying they want to change their IDs to smart IDs, but they can’t travel because it’s too far. Some young people have turned 18 and don’t have IDs. We want to bring these services closer to where they stay.”
Maswazi said Riverside View still lacks key public facilities, making mobile service delivery essential. “When they see a tent here, they know they can come across the street and get assistance.”
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