DEAR Editor,-
We are experiencing somewhat of a problem with Ugu trying to enforce a by-law that was promulgated in 1998. This entails forcing all sectional title complexes to install a supply of water for 24 hours in case of a breakdown from their side.
1 Initially Ugu (through Mandy van der Walt) told managing agents via email to advise their bodies corporate that they were required to install water storage for 24-hour usage (as per the by-law enacted in 1998).
2 At an open meeting in Port Shepstone, Johan van der Walt of Ugu further emphasised that this must be done. Storage tanks must use Ugu water with pressure pumps to supply complex units.
3 However, in reading the by-law on which this injunction was formulated, the following was noted:
– Only consumer units or premises exceeding 2kl per day should be advised on 30 days’ notice, that they are required to conform to this injunction;
– When this was pointed out by me, Johan van der Walt stated that he would not deal with managing agents at all;
– Any future contacts would only be with bodies corporate.
Chairpersons of various bodies corporate then emailed him significant questions:
1 Although Ugu now regarded bodies corporate as ‘authorised service providers’ and Ugu as the authority, their requirement that an entire complex may not exceed the 2kl per day, did not make logical sense. In other words, 50 units could never be included in the same classification as 5 units. There was no reply to this except to repeat that the by-law meaning for ‘consumer unit’ was the body corporate. How they could be the service provider and the consumer unit is incomprehensible.
2 He also did not respond adequately to a query why all premises (as per their by-law), including households, factories, offices, shops and farms, were not advised of this injunction?
It is felt by all concerned that the incredible expense required to conform to this, the speed at which they are trying to carry it out and the incorrect manner, such as arrogance, not conforming to procedure and bulldozing only a portion of the public, is unfair and discriminatory.
This is merely the outline of the problem we are experiencing with Ugu. Some of our complexes have already been advised (after querying their usage) that they are not required to install tanks! I have proof of all correspondence.
PHIL ROWLEY
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