I have to complain about the Lack of service and the unfair treatment I have received from Mogale City Council.
I have spoken to every clerk and official but the ball just gets passed on.
From Nomvula who is the most helpful but has no authority to make decisions to Poppy Gama who hands the ball to Agnes Moremi who sends me a settlement document.
The more I ask to speak to their legal department as I am not in arrears on rates taxes, sewarege or refuse collection. The R260 that I short paid was paid three months later and all I ask is for the admin fee to be removed. As it is now admin fee on top of outstanding Admin fee … I get nowhere.
I complain that I live in Cape Town and cannot come in to sort out an amount of R680.38 which is the admin fees added to my account (five times R136).
They transfer my call to Thabo Phage who threatens me when all I ask is why was I not notified about the letters of demand and why neither I nor my tenant received such a notice. I kept asking to talk to their legal department, but to no avail. I even spoke to the Mayor’s secretary who referred me to a Piet Tebjane.
Piet Tebjane was totally unsympathetic with my request for proof of these letters of demand and threatened to have my electricity disconnected.
Every month for the past six years I have monthly paid my rates and taxes. The history is on their computer.
On 26 August they went and cut off my electricity and of course I calmly phone and ask why?
I get transferred from one clerk to the next with a promise that Poppy will get back to me … she eventually does.
The more I ask that delivery address for Letters of Demand be my address in Cape Town the less they understand that white people do not open the mail of someone else. My tenants never received any letters of demand directed at them and do what all of us do.
Poppy tells me today, 27 August, that Piet Tebjane has to authorise these corrections and reversals. I have been over Piet Tebjane’s head before and he is not willing to budge because the Councillors that were voted in are adamant that these unfair practices must continue.
So do we blame the ANC?
Do we blame the greedy councillors?
Do we blame a lame system that spends hours of their staffs time and my time, milling over the same conversation?
Do we blame the fact that I am a pensioner who has no pension and must balance my budget backwards to keep up with a tide of price increases?
I have to discontinue my medical aid because I cant afford it … now at 62 when I need it most?
Should I get a cardboard and stand at the robot?
Maybe your readers want my bnank details?
Sarcasm aside I feel the system is unfair and the chances are I will once again lose a tenant or not get paid my rent?
* Letter published unedited — Ed.
