Stuart Buckley, Plumstead
In the first quarter of last year we noticed that in our 23-unit metered complex we were always falling short with our water usage.
Each unit has its own water meter which is read by an outside company that compiles monthly reports on our usage, hence us knowing we were short, on average, 40kl to 60kl of water.
We started logging calls for investigation, but each time they would get closed and unresolved. Then, towards the end of last year we were told we had to pay upfront for bulk meter testing.
We paid R9 000 to
have it done, and that is when the shambles council is in showed itself.
We were told it
would take 21 work-
ing days to do the testing. But when 21 days came and went, we were told to wait another 21 working days.
We then approached the City council om- budsman on Thursday March 29.
Then council told us they don’t do the testing themselves but rely on an outside company.
After a lot of back-and-forth emails, the City ombudsman advised us to open an official complaint, which we did on Friday June 29, only to get a letter back saying the complaint had been sent to the line manager and the matter was closed.
How can it be closed just like that? I emailed the manager straight away and copied the ombudsman in, and, surprise surprise, neither has bothered to reply.
This had dragged on for more than nine months since we were told to pay upfront, and at no stage has anyone even committed to addressing the prob-
lem.
The City of Cape Town’s media manager Luthando Tyhalibongo responds: “We have followed up on this matter. We can confirm that the testing of water meters is only done at our laboratory which uses a South African National Accreditation system and that no external testing is
done.
The reason for the delay of the meter replacement was due to the specific size of the connection of the
water meter that was
not available at the
time.
We have been in contact with the customer to inform them of the reasons for the delay.
