JoburgCAN is warning residents that the City of Johannesburg is aggressively pursuing revenue collection, and as a result, disconnection blitzes are in full swing. While the city’s financial pressures are understandable, the flawed billing system is leaving many residents vulnerable.
“Residents need to know their rights. The city’s billing system is broken, and countless residents have long-standing disputes over their bills,” said Julia Fish, Managing Director of JoburgCAN. “The law requires disputes to be resolved quickly, but we’ve seen cases drag on for years.”
The problem arises because billing is managed by the City of Johannesburg, while entities like City Power or Johannesburg Water handle the services. “When residents dispute a meter reading, they can dispute with the revenue department, a central call centre or directly with the entity. But the various parties may not be notified promptly,” Fish explained. “This silo effect means that residents can be disconnected even while they have a valid, ongoing dispute as the disconnections are managed by both revenue and entities.”
JoburgCAN urges all residents to be proactive. “If you are disputing a bill, notify your regional revenue office and ensure your dispute is documented with a reference number. Make sure to report every bill to keep the dispute active and flagged. If you are part of a community association, ensure they disseminate updates, ask if they are members of JoburgCAN to get assistance, and they can connect you with councillors to escalate issues beyond 90 days,” said Fish.
“As the city pushes revenue collection harder due to its budget pressures, residents must remain vigilant. Your rights matter, and disputes need to be resolved before disconnection,” Fish concluded.
For more information, contact info@joburgcan.org.za