Lonehill resident targeted in water scam after months without access
Thea Swann narrowly escaped a scam after being contacted by a man posing as a City of Johannesburg official who offered to clear her R77 000 water bill in exchange for a R9 500 payment.
Thea Swann, a Lonehill resident, narrowly avoided a sophisticated scam, involving a fake City of Johannesburg (CoJ) official who offered to clear her mounting municipal debt… But at a cost.
The ordeal added insult to injury for Swann, who has been living without running water since February due to unresolved billing and infrastructure issues. “It was two weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, around 10:00, when I received the call from a man who introduced himself as Mr Leo from the CoJ. He knew my name, address, and my son’s details.”
Also read: Taxi drivers cry foul over parking in Fourways
Swann has been battling with the municipality for over a year, following a burst water pipe under her house shortly after moving in. With no help from the city, despite repeated emails and in-person visits, she was forced to hire a private company to fix the problem, paying R23 300 out of her own pocket. But that wasn’t the end. She has been slapped with an ever-growing water bill, first R27 800, then R41 400, eventually ballooning to R77 000.
“I sent email after email,” she said. “I went to Johannesburg Water (JW). I was sent away. Even Region A, in Midrand, turned me away. Nobody helped. Then, they cut our water in February.”
Swann has reported the case to the ombudsman, sharing her documents, but progress has been slow. “The city says, because I used a private contractor, it’s my problem, but how was I supposed to wait while water was leaking under the house for months?”
Also read: Joburg Water’s plans to ensure ‘Water for All’
She and her son have since lived without running water, relying on daily water collections from her school and donations from churches. “Every day I carry 25-litre drums, just to cook, wash, and flush,” she said.
Then came the phone call, claiming to be able to cancel her entire R77 000 water bill. Overwhelmed and emotional, she almost believed him, until he asked her to pay R9 500 into an Absa account for ‘rates and taxes’, that was when alarm bells started to ring. “The Holy Spirit told me immediately, ‘No’. I asked him for a black-and-white letter and his office address. He got irritated and defensive. That’s when I knew it was a scam.”
Swann reported the incident to ward councillor David Foley, who confirmed no such person works for the city. “Where did this man get all my private information?” she asked, suspecting that there might be an internal leak.
Read more: Water leak results in massive potholes as councillor demands repairs
More disturbing, she says she’s not the only one. “On our community WhatsApp group, other residents have reported similar calls. It’s terrifying.” She wants answers, not just about the scam, but about how her information was accessed, and why, despite the countless efforts, no one at JW has restored their basic right to water.
“We’re not asking for special treatment. Just dignity. Just fairness.”
Fourways Review contacted JW for comment, but none was supplied at the time of publication.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
