Govt unaware of R89m lawsuit for alleged billing abuse

The City of Joburg claims it is unaware of an R89 million civil lawsuit filed by residents and businesses over alleged abusive electricity billing practices reportedly under investigation by the public protector.

- Enkosi Selane

This emerged during a parliamentary exchange where EFF MP Elsabe Natasha Ntlangwini questioned Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa about oversight measures regarding municipal billing systems.

Hlabisa revealed that his department has not received any formal complaints or correspondence from the public protector regarding the matter.

However, he confirmed that a Presidential Johannesburg Working Group has been established to address the city's billing challenges.

Cogta is playing a leading coordination role in the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group. Hlabisa said the working group was established following an oversight visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cabinet.

"It is giving dedicated attention to, among other things, the billing challenges experienced by the City of Joburg," Hlabisa said.