Is your municipal bill incorrect? Can't solve the problem with the City of Johannesburg?
Look no further than the city's office of the ombudsman.
Since opening two years ago, the office has assisted over 1000 residents.
The office investigates complaints of alleged maladministration, service failures and unfair treatment by the City of Johannesburg.
ALSO READ:City of Joburg offering deal to those who battle to pay
Take the case of Gerard Barnard, 49, of Parktown North, who paid over R90000 on a water bill. He had been trying to correct the account since 2015.
Barnard, who lives with only his wife, said his water bill escalated in 2013 from R800 to R1300.
He said he queried this and was told they were estimates and that he probably had a leak.
He could not find the leak and neither could the municipality when it did an inspection. His account then ballooned to R7000 per month, which he paid under protest for the last year.
Barnard said he visited the ombudsman to lodge a complaint. Although it took almost a year to resolve, he said he was happy when Dinkie Dube, the acting ombudsman, invited him to her office a month ago to deliver good news.
"She had successfully recovered R90000 the City of Joburg had overcharged me over the past four years," Barnard said.
Lungelo Shezi, of Sydenham, said it was after she sought the intervention of the ombudsman that she was able to put a stop to the harassment she had endured at the hands of an abusive Metrobus bus driver.
Shezi said she used to board the bus at Gandhi Square and would be called all sorts of derogatory names.
She said the driver could not accept rejection after he declared his love to her.
"I was shocked when more than five women also joined me when I told the driver where to get off," Shezi said.
Shezi said taking the matter to his employer also worked.
Vukile Madlala, communications and media executive manager of the city's ombuds office, said in the period of July 2016 to the end of May the office had resolved 596 complaints.
She said the ombudsman had 782 active cases as at the end of May.
"The majority of complaints relate to allegations of incorrect billing," Madlala said.
"The increase in investigative capacity saw the appointment of nine investigators in January this year."
Madlala said this was the biggest highlight of the financial year.
She said the office also helped write off a bill of R3539255.20, which a consumer was incorrectly billed.
You can contact the office at (010)288-2800 or e-mail your complaint or enquiry to info@joburgombudsman.org.za.
The office is situated at Isle of Houghton, Wilds View II, 11 Boundary Road, Houghton Estate.
Ombudsman sorts out unfair bills - Joburg residents now can take their complaints to a dedicated office
Is your municipal bill incorrect? Can't solve the problem with the City of Johannesburg?
Look no further than the city's office of the ombudsman.
Since opening two years ago, the office has assisted over 1000 residents.
The office investigates complaints of alleged maladministration, service failures and unfair treatment by the City of Johannesburg.
ALSO READ:City of Joburg offering deal to those who battle to pay
Take the case of Gerard Barnard, 49, of Parktown North, who paid over R90000 on a water bill. He had been trying to correct the account since 2015.
Barnard, who lives with only his wife, said his water bill escalated in 2013 from R800 to R1300.
He said he queried this and was told they were estimates and that he probably had a leak.
He could not find the leak and neither could the municipality when it did an inspection. His account then ballooned to R7000 per month, which he paid under protest for the last year.
Barnard said he visited the ombudsman to lodge a complaint. Although it took almost a year to resolve, he said he was happy when Dinkie Dube, the acting ombudsman, invited him to her office a month ago to deliver good news.
"She had successfully recovered R90000 the City of Joburg had overcharged me over the past four years," Barnard said.
Lungelo Shezi, of Sydenham, said it was after she sought the intervention of the ombudsman that she was able to put a stop to the harassment she had endured at the hands of an abusive Metrobus bus driver.
Shezi said she used to board the bus at Gandhi Square and would be called all sorts of derogatory names.
She said the driver could not accept rejection after he declared his love to her.
"I was shocked when more than five women also joined me when I told the driver where to get off," Shezi said.
Shezi said taking the matter to his employer also worked.
Vukile Madlala, communications and media executive manager of the city's ombuds office, said in the period of July 2016 to the end of May the office had resolved 596 complaints.
She said the ombudsman had 782 active cases as at the end of May.
"The majority of complaints relate to allegations of incorrect billing," Madlala said.
"The increase in investigative capacity saw the appointment of nine investigators in January this year."
Madlala said this was the biggest highlight of the financial year.
She said the office also helped write off a bill of R3539255.20, which a consumer was incorrectly billed.
You can contact the office at (010)288-2800 or e-mail your complaint or enquiry to info@joburgombudsman.org.za.
The office is situated at Isle of Houghton, Wilds View II, 11 Boundary Road, Houghton Estate.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos