The DA in uMshwathi Local Municipality have received numerous complaints from distressed residents over inaccurate bills and readings. Customers cannot get assistance from the customer care centres as some of the problems are directly related to billing.
There are constantly internet issues as well as offline problems and this causes more frustration for residents who go in to query.
Recently residents are harassed by debt collectors for bills that are not correct.
The DA has written to the Municipal Manager, Dr Muthwa, asking for the accuracy of meter readings and bills to be urgently addressed. The water collection rate of 52% for uMshwathi will never improve while bills are this inaccurate.
The supply of water instead of being restricted, is illegally switched off completely based on these inaccurate billings.
We have further asked that affluent areas near Otto’s Bluff, where water is provided without any meters or billing is urgently addressed. This unbilled non – revenue water, ultimately causes tariffs to increase for all residents. There are also examples of taps running day and night in other communities, adding to the waste of potable water and the high bulk water costs.