Sunnyridge residents petition BCM over billing complaints

Buffalo City Metro (BCM) residents have gone the petition route in a bid to get the municipality to address “exorbitant billing” and complaints over service delivery.

Sunnyridge residents handed the petition over to the speaker's office on Thursday. The petition was signed by more than 150 residents.

Zola Dabula said residents had come together as they believed BCM was “acting very unfairly” towards its taxpaying citizens.

High monthly accounts could not be explained, Dabula said.

She said her August billing also had “confusing reversals”.

“The worst explanation one receives from BCM staff on these queries or anomalies is that as ratepayers we should continue paying estimated amounts that we think are appropriate,” Dabula said.

The residents have called on BCM to individually address all the accounts listed on the petition.

They also want the municipality to explain how billing amounts are calculated.

“We call upon the municipality to reverse the amounts charged, especially on water and rates, including the interest charged.”

Dabula said they had given BCM 14 days to respond to their concerns.

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said BCM responded to billing queries as they arose and a call centre was available to deal with them.

“You’ll find challenges of people who have not rezoned their residential areas for business. Those are some of the many issues we’d like people to be aware of.”

He also asked people to be aware of punitive tariffs that were in place.

“We have realised a lack of awareness from consumers on how the issue of the punitive tariffs works and as such, a meeting was held between our water, billing and communications departments and we have resolved that we will undertake a communications awareness campaign to teach communities.

“People need to know that we are in a drought. Water is a scarce resource and if you use and exceed certain percentages, you end up in the red zone where you can be charged double. So it becomes important for each ratepayer to preserve, monitor and take responsibility for each drop.”

Ntombencinci Madikana, of Mdantsane, said she had to wait days for a water leak in the street outside her home to be attended to.

“The water ran all the way down from the source into my yard which I noticed last Sunday.

“The next day, on the Monday, there was a lot more water and I decided to visit the civic centre to report the matter. I was told that many others had already reported the problem,” Madikana said.

On Tuesday, Madikana went to report the matter to her ward councillor but was told to come back the next day as the councillor had an emergency appointment.

“I called the number provided by the municipality on Wednesday but it wasn't answered. That day, I almost slipped on the water in my yard. I only received assistance on Friday and the water flow was stopped. I'm not sure what they did but the hole they dug up has been left open,” Madikana said. — DispatchLIVE