The ongoing mismanagement and malfunctioning of the Lekwa Local Municipality’s (Standerton, Morgenzon) billing system, particularly regarding residents’ water and electricity consumption, is deeply concerning.
Despite repeated complaints from residents and half-hearted attempts by the municipal administration to rectify the issue, the system continues to use estimated consumption figures rather than actual meter readings.
The Municipality encouraged residents to submit their own meter readings in 2024, but the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) received numerous complaints from residents that these readings are either ignored or incorrectly recorded.
As a result, residents face unjustifiably high charges when corrections are made, often at elevated tariffs.
Some residents keep receiving final notices and threats that their services will be disconnected due to outstanding fees, but the bills still reflect previous property owners’ accounts. This not only causes needless anxiety, but also contributes to an unrealistic projection of municipal revenue, while placing an unreasonable financial burden on honest, paying residents.
The Freedom Front Plus, therefore, requests an immediate and thorough audit of the entire municipal billing system. A proposal for such an audit was tabled by the party and has been approved. The Municipality must now take decisive steps in this regard.
Residents deserve a transparent, reliable and fair billing system – one that is worthy of their trust and recognises their financial contributions. The Freedom Front Plus will keep putting pressure on the Municipality until accurate and fair utility bills are issued to residents.
