A 74-year-old Gqeberha businessman, Adriaan Smuts, has been fighting a municipal water bill that ballooned to over R1.5-million, which he claims is impossible for his household. Despite the municipality applying a credit, reducing the debt to roughly R30,000, Smuts is refusing to pay, demanding a full correction of his account. Smuts' monthly water bill had never exceeded R300, and he estimates his monthly municipal water consumption at no more than 5kl.
Smuts' water bill skyrocketed from R300 to R1.5m, with one of the municipal accounts recording water consumption of 1kl in one month, followed by 4,919kl in the next. Smuts finds this figure incredible, given his reliance on rainwater tanks for everyday household needs. He believes the problem lies with the municipality's handling of meter readings and billing information. Smuts has been struggling for months to have his account rectified, finding the process exhausting and time-consuming.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya stated that the municipality investigates billing disputes and that several factors can contribute to problems with municipal accounts. These factors include estimated billing, faulty or replaced meters, unusually high consumption caused by leaks, and delays in technical investigations. However, Smuts says none of these explanations account for the figures on his bill.
Smuts was offered debt relief by the municipality but declined, saying he wants the underlying billing error corrected. He believes the municipality is deliberately trying to make it look like large sums of money are owed by residents when this is not the case. Ward 12 councillor Vernon Boggenpoel said his office receives complaints about incorrect municipal bills almost every week, with many elderly residents distressed at the prospect of paying bills they claim are wrong.
Boggenpoel stated that the problems extend beyond incorrect readings and point to serious weaknesses in the municipality's billing and record-keeping systems. He believes better systems are needed to identify billing anomalies before residents are forced to spend hours trying to correct them. Residents who receive unexpectedly high water bills are advised to check for leaks and compare their meter reading with the municipal account.
Residents can dispute their bills by submitting a photograph of their current meter reading to the municipality's Customer Care and reporting suspected faulty meters. Those dissatisfied with the outcome of a billing investigation can request a further review through the municipality's Customer Care or visit one of the municipality's customer service centres. Smuts' experience is not unique, with many residents facing similar issues with incorrect municipal bills.
The issue of incorrect municipal bills has raised concerns across Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, with residents calling for greater accountability and improved billing systems. The municipality's handling of meter readings and billing information has been questioned, and residents are demanding a more efficient and transparent process for resolving billing disputes.
Key points
- Adriaan Smuts' dispute highlights weaknesses in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's billing and record-keeping systems.
- Residents are advised to check for leaks and compare meter readings to dispute unexpectedly high water bills.
- The municipality investigates billing disputes, citing factors such as estimated billing, faulty meters, and leaks as possible causes of incorrect bills.
