Jo'burg billing crisis: Playing politics

05 SEP 2012 20:15 - NICKOLAUS BAUER The Jo'burg billing crisis has become a political football, as ANC-led city officials insist the DA has no authority to step in on residents' behalf. OUR COVERAGE Citizens upbeat but taxes bother Jo'burg scrambles to clear billing crisis backlog Gauteng to focus on 'accelerating delivery' MORE COVERAGE Over 70 irregularities recorded in Jo'burg audit Matters came to a head on Wednesday when a member of Johannesburg's ANC-led mayoral committee, Geoffrey Makhubo, allegedly refused to accept 3 000 unresolved billing enquiries collated by the Democratic Alliance. Two weeks ago the DA hosted a meeting at Marks Park in Melville, inviting city residents to detail their continuing billing issues, after the ANC in Gauteng said the matter was close to being finalised. The opposition party logged several thousand complaints as citizens provided proof of outstanding queries relating to payments for services in Johannesburg. "There is a crisis, it has not been resolved, and the ANC in Johannesburg is in denial about that fact," said DA spokesperson Mmusi Maimane, who claimed Makhubo had refused to accept the queries, demanding instead the DA contingent leave the City of Jo'burg offices. "Makhubo’s office refused to accept the bills and went so far as to call in the metro police to remove us from the premises. It seems that Mr Makhubo has bowed to political pressure from the ANC," he said. But the city said the DA had no authority to undertake such action. 'No capacity' "The DA has no capacity to resolve any customer queries. The contract agreement and account is between the City and the customer," Zoleka Zide, an assistant director in Makhubo's office, told the Mail & Guardian. "We therefore appeal to our customers not to be misled by the promises of political parties and pressure groups that they are able to resolve issues outside the City-established channels." Zide said Jo'burg residents need to use the correct channels to address their concerns. "There are no shortcuts that can be offered by 'shadow MMC's' or 'shadowy intermediaries' that will bypass the process or offer preferential treatment," she said. The City launched a revenue intervention programme in November last year, committing to addressing the inaccurate billings and queries over 19 months. But has been no concrete information as to how far the matter is from being finalised. "We would once more want to thank all our customers for payment of services and assure them that we remain committed to improving service delivery. Our doors will always be open for customers to pay accounts and log queries," Zide sai- Mail & Guardian - Comments by Sonny - The DA has every right. Not like the Public Protector, the DA cares for the deceived, underprivileged and deceased! THE DA DELIVERS SERVICE DELIVERY! THE DA IS OUR VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS! When will the World realise that the ANC lead municipalities are committing Fraud and Corruption right under our noses? Then they deny all accountabilities in the face of circumspection! One quality they lack is Honesty! Where is Amos Masondo hiding? I, for one, have been waiting over 3 years, for an answer to my personally submitted complaints. I got a letter about one year ago, from a third party, requesting my particulars? I have not yet received a response from the office of the Public Protector, which I sent a copy to.