WATCH: Joburg Water, City Power accused of illegal billing against blind society

Sharing Kindness Foundation wants Johannesburg Water and City Power to be taken to task for claims of illegal billing against the Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB).

The foundation is calling for a fine and imprisonment.

In a statement, the foundation said of JSB’s water billing: “On December 14, 2020 – over four years ago, Joburg Water cut and plugged the society’s water supply 1.2m underground, compacted the soil, and covered it with paving bricks. Since then, the society has relied solely on borehole water,” read the statement.

“Yet, Joburg Water still demands R2.5k per month in an ‘availability charge’ for a pipe that is not accessible – amounting to R89k over three years. Worse, their account contains R20m in illegally prescribed debt and interest. The society’s water meters are on neighbouring properties, yet they’ve been charged for five years,” said the foundation.

Sharing Kindness Foundation also slammed JSB’s electricity billing.

WATCH: Johannesburg Society for the Blind without water, power after bill not paid for years

“For over 14 months, the Jhb Society for the Blind has had no electricity, yet City Power is still charging them R24k per month – amounting to R539k over 22 months, instead of the R9.3m falsely billed. Their account contains R8.7m in illegally prescribed debt and interest,” it said.

“Their meter hasn’t been calibrated since 2013, violating NERSA regulations. Their actual electricity usage hasn’t been reflected on their account for more than 14 months. They are a residential PBO for indigent blind individuals on Sassa grants, yet City Power is charging business rates. This injustice must be corrected, and the head of billing must face a R10m fine and three months in prison,” the foundation added.

JSB provides accommodation for the visually impaired and 24-hour medical care, social work interventions, orientation and mobility training, HIV/Aids outreach programmes and other uplifting initiatives. Founded in 1926, it started by helping civilians who were blinded during World War I. It then steadily strengthened by helping more visually impaired people and other vulnerable groups.

The city’s response:

The City of Johannesburg has consistently engaged with the representatives of the Johannesburg Society for the Blind to address their municipal billing and accumulated debt.

ALSO READ: City Power demands clarity from JSB on R9.8m bill

During these meetings, detailed explanations were provided regarding the society’s municipal bill and the debt owed. Despite these efforts, the Johannesburg Society for the Blind has not met its obligation to pay for municipal services in full and on time over the years.

Consequently, their debt has significantly increased, leading the city to terminate municipal services at the property. The city has made multiple attempts to assist the society by proposing payment arrangements to help rehabilitate their financial situation.

However, these efforts have been unsuccessful as the society repeatedly defaulted on the minimum monthly payments required for the services received.

Municipalities are obligated to collect revenue, and property owners are responsible for making consistent and timely payments for municipal services.

The non-payment of municipal services has placed the city at risk of not being able to provide consistent water, and electricity, collect refuse, build, and maintain new infrastructure for millions of residents in the future if municipal services are not paid for.

ALSO READ: City terminates its services from JSB due to non-payments