City says Craighall pensioners owe R143k for unpaid services, not billing error
Yet despite their pleas and proof of mismatched meter numbers, they continue to receive letters from City Power threatening disconnection unless they pay a total municipal debt of over R143 000.
Barrie claims he has paid around R10 000 a month in recent months to keep the lights on, while mostly living in just one room with his partially paralysed wife. 'They keep saying I owe thousands, but I've paid and paid,' he said.
Also read: Elderly Craighall Park couple face R143k City Power bill, for a meter that's not theirs
A new prepaid smart meter was eventually installed on July 16 after months of confusion and frustration.
City responds with facts and a firm stance.
Following the initial article, the City of Johannesburg issued a statement addressing the Brookstones' concerns. According to their records, the R143 000 bill is not just for electricity, but for combined municipal services including property rates, water, sewer and refuse.
Kgamanyane Maphologela, director of communications, said, 'The property owners have a long-standing pattern of irregular payments and are classified as part-paying customers.' The city claims the couple have either underpaid or skipped payments altogether over the past four years.
The city added that despite repeated opportunities, no formal debt repayment arrangement has been made. As such, the property has been flagged for disconnection under Project Lokisa, a city-wide campaign to target defaulting accounts and illegal connections.
Also read: Residents along Louis Botha Avenue furious as City Power fails to fix damaged infrastructure
Customers facing financial difficulties are urged to approach the municipality to make formal payment arrangements. Various payment options are available, including debit orders, EasyPay retailers, and online banking.
City Power shifts billing responsibilities
In a separate statement, City Power announced that as of July 1, it has officially taken over electricity billing from the City of Johannesburg. This shift is aimed at resolving persistent billing issues and restoring trust with residents.
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said the change is designed to bring greater accuracy and accountability to the process. 'By taking full ownership of the billing function, we are putting customers at the centre of our operations,' she said.
Also read: Tips to reduce power usage and stay warm this winter
A new city-wide audit of electricity meters is already underway to ensure every household is correctly billed. A dedicated unit has also been created to handle billing queries and speed up resolution times. Residents with queries are encouraged to email [email protected] or call 011 490 7484.
For Barrie, who insists the numbers still don't add up, the issue remains deeply personal. 'We just want clarity and fairness,' he said. 'Someone must be held responsible for this mess.'
The city says they are open to working with all residents, but payment or at least an arrangement is non-negotiable.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Gareth Cliff speaks out on 'murdered' black farmer
Gareth Cliff has spoken out about Tshwane farmer Jerry Boshoga, who was kidnapped last year. This week, reports emerged that the businessman had been murdered, claims police have labelled 'misinformation'. Cliff's comments come weeks after he spoke to Piers Morgan on a panel discussion about allegations of 'white genocide' and concerns of farm murders in South Africa. He also addressed legislation he believes 'discriminates' against white South Africans. In an X post, Gareth Cliff reacted to a post about Tshwane farmer Jerry Boshoga. In allegations that authorities have since disputed, X user @Lebona_cabonena posted: 'Jerry Boshoga, a prominent farmer and businessman who went missing in November, has been found dead'. Cliff retweeted the post, adding: 'Tragic. Our government needs to take farm murders seriously.' Unbeknownst to Gareth Cliff, the South African police have cautioned South Africans about reposting 'fake news' about the farmer. It shared in a statement this week: 'Unverified social media accounts have shared misleading and false information claiming that Mr Boshoga has been found deceased. 'The SAPS can confirm that the investigation into his kidnapping is still at a very sensitive stage, and the businessman has not been found alive nor deceased. We therefore call on all social media users to STOP THE SPREAD OF UNVERIFIED INFORMATION'. According to the SABC, Tshwane farmer Jerry Boshoga was reportedly kidnapped on 18 November last year. After his disappearance, videos of the 46-year-old being gagged and tortured went viral. His alleged kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of R25 million, but reduced it to R10 million. In one distressing clip, Boshoga pleaded with his mother, 'Please pay, pay now so they can release me. It is too bad. I really need you, please, mother. Please come and pay. Please pay everything that they want. I am begging you …' Police have confirmed that the investigation into Boshoga's disappearance is active and 'sensitive'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
2 days ago
- eNCA
Mashatile is in hot water over undecleared diamond gift
JOHANNESBURG - The Parliaments Joint Committee on Ethics has taken aim at Deputy President Paul Mashatile. This as the committee has recommended that Deputy President Paul Mashatile be fined R10,000 for failing to disclose a diamond that was gifted to his wife by businessman Louis Liebenberg. Mashatile claimed that he was waiting for an appraisal before declaring it and has since handed it over to the National Prosecuting Authority.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Here's what Ramaphosa said about Mashatile's diamond gift saga
The deputy president was recently fined R10 000 by parliament. President Cyril Ramaphosa says Deputy President Paul Mashatile must account for himself after he failed to declare a diamond gifted to his wife by controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg. Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, after the swearing-in of acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, President Ramaphosa made it clear that the responsibility to respond lies with Mashatile himself. 'I can't answer for him, and he has answers for all his matters. 'We will need to wait for him to provide answers to all these questions, and only he can answer them. So let's wait for that, and then we take the process from there,' Ramaphosa said. Earlier this week, parliament's joint committee on ethics and members' interests imposed a R10 000 fine on Mashatile for failing to declare the diamond in the confidential section of his financial interests register. ALSO READ: Mashatile reveals he spent R2.3m on travel, food, and laundry for Japan trip The fine follows a formal complaint by the DA regarding the matter. Mashatile had defended his actions by stating he had been awaiting an appraisal to confirm the diamond's authenticity and value before disclosing it. However, the committee concluded that this did not exempt him from his duty to declare the gift. The diamond in question was reportedly handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in light of Liebenberg's arrest last year on charges that include fraud, theft, racketeering, and money laundering. Mashatile declares luxury property Mashatile has faced mounting scrutiny in recent months over his perceived opulent lifestyle and close ties to individuals implicated in corruption, including businessman Edwin Sodi. The diamond gift from Liebenberg — along with Mashatile's recent disclosures involving high-end properties — has further heightened public scrutiny. The deputy president declared ownership of a R28.9 million estate in Constantia, Cape Town, despite previously denying any property ownership in the area. His office had insisted in October last year that he had no properties in Cape Town aside from a house in Kelvin, Johannesburg, purchased through a bank loan with his late wife. At the time, the Constantia property was reportedly owned by a company connected to his son-in-law However, new disclosures made this year list the 4 000-square-metre Constantia house as Mashatile's, along with a 9 300-square-metre home in Waterfall, Midrand, reportedly valued at R37 million and the Kelvin residence. The Hawks are currently investigating Mashatile following criminal charges laid by the DA. Last year, Mashatile declared ownership of two properties, one located in Midrand spanning 1 000 by 1 200 square metres, and another in Sandton covering 600 by 800 square metres. NOW READ: Mashatile denies family tied to multibillion-rand lottery deal
