Sorry, we switched your electricity off wrongfully

The municipality is changing to a new financial system and they said there will be hick-ups along the way.

July 13, 2021

Zita Goldswain 2 minutes read

Two very unhappy residents complained about the municipality switching off their electricity even though their accounts are paid up to date.

Mr Patrick Modubu and Ms Nicolene du Plessis are desperate because this mistake occurs regularly.

Modubu said he was worried about his medicine that needs to be refrigerated.

“Fish goes off very quickly and my medicine is no use anymore. What can I do,” an anxious Modubu asked.

He said he has a debit order from his bank and he knows he is not in arrears. He phoned the municipality several times after not getting a response turned to WITBANK NEWS that immediately contacted the relevant people at the municipality.

Modubu’s electricity was switched on again the next day.

“Wait until next month; we will have the same problem again because my electricity meter in the distribution box does not even have a number on.”

Du Plessis told WITBANK NEWS that they stay in a divided yard.

“We bought this house in December 2015 and since then our electricity is switched off monthly. We phone and the municipality is very accommodating. However, we sometimes have to wait up to five hours before the electricity is switched on again.”

Du Plessis said they have been trying to get the municipality to fix this problem for the past five years.

“It is now on my shoulders to try and sort out this problem monthly, whereas I am the client and the municipality should come and fix their mistakes,” Du Plessis added.

She said the owner of the second yard is in arrears with his account

The municipality visited Du Plessis and said they would start a cable finding process and find out where the fault is. But up to date, nothing has been done.

“We wish to apologise and commit ourselves to send the team to go and investigate the matters and rectify them as soon as possible. Once more I further wish to advise members of the community to urgently contact our call centre should they experience such inconvenience,” Mr Lebo Mofokeng municipal spokesperson said.

He also said that the municipality is changing to a new financial system and there will be hick-ups along the way.

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