• Anonymous writes:
“We had a prepaid water meter for 10 years and were purchasing water tokens monthly of which we have proof. On November 24, 2022 we discovered the meter was not communicating with the user interface unit. After much research (on what could be wrong and how and to whom to report it) and subsequent various communications, someone from the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) Water Department came out and informed us that our meter has already been converted to a conventional meter, his reason being that the municipality has not had meters (or parts) since January 2022, why, we do not know.
The manufacturer of the water management device advised that it probably needs a battery, which you cannot replace yourself since you can’t open the box, therefore you need to report it to MCLM, and we mentioned this to the person attending. But if that MCLM employee or contractor who is supposed to be the knowledgeable one tells you about not having meters or parts, you presume your meter needs maintenance.
Early last month, we reported a leak at the meter and when talking to the team that came to attend, airing our frustration at not having a prepaid meter anymore, we were handed a pamphlet about this rigorous revenue collection drive.
We understand the motivation behind it but strongly disagree with their execution.
This note as well as their press release issued January 26, 2023, clearly states they will target users that have not been paying for or purchasing water. Why did they convert our meter when we have proof of purchasing water tokens? Why are we, law-abiding, paying citizens being targeted and made out to be criminals … because MCLM is exactly what you’re implying by converting our meter. This is slander.
We are not happy to be made out to be part of the consumers that have not been paying.
The municipality can verify token purchases made on a meter number. Why did they not do that? If they were in doubt, why did they not ask for proof of our purchases before they converted the meter? They had time to come to the meter and convert it, writing ‘converted’ on the side, they could have requested proof at that time.
MCLM is converting meters without regard to whether people were buying tokens or not, whereas other municipalities (our neighboring City of Joburg for one) are encouraging their residents to install prepaid meters. Why do other municipalities not experience the same kind of revenue loss?
The only way you can have access to water without purchasing tokens on a prepaid meter must be if somehow this prepaid meter was bypassed. Surely that would be visible when the meter is inspected. Or have all the prepaid meters suddenly become faulty?
A huge part of the non-revenue water problem is also the many leaks. On our street corner is a fire hydrant point that has been leaking for years. People passing fill water bottles there, and dog walkers let their dogs drink there. It has been reported several times and various people attended, the CPF even attempted to assist. But the leak remains. Shouldn’t MCLM concentrate more on these problems instead of unjustly converting someone’s meter?”
The News has approached MCLM for comment on the matter who acknowledged receipt saying, “We are liaising with colleagues in the relevant departments to give responses” — Ed.
