The FF Plus supports the campaign launched by the Ekurhuleni Metro’s new Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, to establish a culture of payment among residents.
The FF Plus, however, warned the Metro that the problem does not only lie with residents, but also with untrained officials.
If the Metro does not make sure that the officials and managers of customer care centres are properly trained, Mr Dlabathi’s initiative will not make much of a difference.
In addition, those responsible for issuing bills must be accountable and always available to help residents with the ever-growing problem of incorrect and irregular billing.
The FF Plus is inundated with complaints from residents who experience billing problems. The party has raised the matter several times, without success, in council meetings and even took it up with the managers of customer care centres.
The FF Plus hopes that Mr Dlabathi will give the matter the attention it is due to rescue the Metro from its financial predicament.
Instead of simply asking residents to ensure that their bills are correct in creating a culture of regular payment, the Ekurhuleni Metro should also accept responsibility and accountability for irregular billing issues.
Officials should assist residents with resolving such issues in a more effective and efficient way than is currently the norm.
The FF Plus is calling on Mr Dlabathi to not only encourage residents to pay their utility bills, but also to implement an effective, hassle-free and streamlined process for resolving billing queries within a reasonable time.
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