City’s citizen relationship unit sees poor residents’ attendance in Vorna Valley
The Citizenship Relationship Management Unit visit every ward around Region A and invited different departments to give education and information sessions.
There was a lot of confusion surrounding Region A’s Citizen Relationship Management Unit meet-and-greet session in Vorna Valley.
The unit had stalls at Vorna Valley Shopping Centre on October 19 from around 10:00 to 12:00. The aim was to inform residents about how to access services from the City of Joburg. It also aimed to educate residents to take care of their environment and infrastructure.
Citizenship Relationship Management’s assistant director Pierre Nel said, “The confusion was caused by the two messages being sent out in one day. In Vorna Valley Shopping Centre we were going to inform and educate residents about how to take care of the City’s environment and infrastructure and we did not have any computers to assist there. Customers who had queries were then assisted on Saturday (October 22). I think that’s what might have caused the confusion.”
Nel added that the unit was facilitating these days every Wednesday in every ward around Region A. Johannesburg Road Agency, Joburg Water, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, and the Office of the Ombudsman were some of the other departments there on the day.
Despite a slow start to the day, a few residents started to trickle in and attempted to query their billing concerns from various city entities. However, the residents left in a more sombre mood as their queries and disputes could not be attended to at this session.
Vorna Valley resident Riaan Jacobs said he had hoped his incorrect meter reading’s billing would be solved. “I just got here, filled the register and I was told they can’t help me. I have sent emails and attached proof of my meter reading, but I am unable to be assisted. I received a bill in August with a total amount three times the amount I normally pay, not sure if what I normally pay is even correct however let me just stick to the current situation at hand,” said Jacobs.
Ashley Barnes, who has been a resident for almost 33 years, said it was disappointing with the billing system. “I am charged almost R300 for a clearance certificate for my house. But I am not selling my house and I am not intending to do so. I am surprised how they got to charge me so much for something that is not there.”
Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said, “It happened not to be a session to sort out queries, but more of an information and knowledge sharing. But there was confusion. The billing office is open and available during the week in Randjiesfontein and people can always go there if they have disputes and queries.”
The Midrand Reporter covered the billing open day where municipal entities from Region A assisted customers with queries on October 22. Property owner Camira Naidoo from Carlswald attended the open day to sort out a long-standing meter problem. She suspected her meter might have gotten mixed up with someone else’s after receiving exorbitant billing amounts for water usage. “We are only three in my house and no swimming pool. So, when I saw the notice for this open day, I told myself that I am giving the city one more chance to resolve this query. I am happy to say my problem has been resolved,” she said.
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