WARD 72 NEWS 2019
City of Joburg Notices
PUBLIC MEETING - JABULA 18h00 - 31 Jan 2019
The City of Joburg Invites all residents and interested parties to give input into the City's Property Rates Policy and Credit Control Policy.
Joburg property owners are reminded that they still have time to take part in public participation meetings and to give their input for the 2018/2019 property rates policy.
The City of Joburg, which is encouraging all owners to participate, said this was not a forum to help with billing problems or find out what the actual rate increases would be, and it would not deal with tariff increases such as water, electricity and other services.
The consultation meetings will focus largely on issues related to affordability and protection of vulnerable categories. The second phase of the rates consultations will finally culminate with the integrated development plans (IDP) process in March. The annual review of the rates policy is a legal requirement to ensure that the city complies with the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004.
Date ...... 31 Jan 2019
Time ..... 18h00 - 20h00
Venue .... Jabula Recreation Centre, Sandringham
DOWN LOAD INVITATION
Residents can also submit comments in writing to -
COJ Property Unit, 66 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein,
e-mail - ratescomments@joburg.org.za
The City of Joburg Invites all residents and interested parties to give input into the City's Property Rates Policy and Credit Control Policy.
Joburg property owners are reminded that they still have time to take part in public participation meetings and to give their input for the 2018/2019 property rates policy.
The City of Joburg, which is encouraging all owners to participate, said this was not a forum to help with billing problems or find out what the actual rate increases would be, and it would not deal with tariff increases such as water, electricity and other services.
The consultation meetings will focus largely on issues related to affordability and protection of vulnerable categories. The second phase of the rates consultations will finally culminate with the integrated development plans (IDP) process in March. The annual review of the rates policy is a legal requirement to ensure that the city complies with the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004.
Date ...... 31 Jan 2019
Time ..... 18h00 - 20h00
Venue .... Jabula Recreation Centre, Sandringham
DOWN LOAD INVITATION
Residents can also submit comments in writing to -
COJ Property Unit, 66 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein,
e-mail - ratescomments@joburg.org.za
A RE SEBETSENG VENUE - 19 Jan '19
A Re Sebetseng means “let’s work.” The campaign strives to encourage all of Joburg’s residents to take care of the environment; and seeks to promote a culture of reducing, re-using, and recycling our waste to ensure that Johannesburg becomes one of the cleanest cities in Africa.
Lets work to keep WARD 72 in pristine condition.
Click here to read more...
A Re Sebetseng means “let’s work.” The campaign strives to encourage all of Joburg’s residents to take care of the environment; and seeks to promote a culture of reducing, re-using, and recycling our waste to ensure that Johannesburg becomes one of the cleanest cities in Africa.
Lets work to keep WARD 72 in pristine condition.
Click here to read more...
How do I register?
When and where can I register?26 Jan 2019 : 08:00 AM-05:00 PM.
Day 1: Final Voter Registration Weekend for 2019 Elections
27 Jan 2019 : 08:00 AM-05:00 PM.
Day 2: Final Voter Registration Weekend for 2019 Elections
What documents do I need to apply for registration?
By law, you must apply in person (NO online or email registrations are permitted).
Please bring your:-
Only original documents (no copies) are accepted.
IEC Provincial Office
1st Floor
Old Trafford 4
The Isle of Houghton
Houghton Estate
36 Boundary Road
Parktown
Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 644 7400
Fax: (011) 644 7448
When and where can I register?26 Jan 2019 : 08:00 AM-05:00 PM.
Day 1: Final Voter Registration Weekend for 2019 Elections
27 Jan 2019 : 08:00 AM-05:00 PM.
Day 2: Final Voter Registration Weekend for 2019 Elections
What documents do I need to apply for registration?
By law, you must apply in person (NO online or email registrations are permitted).
Please bring your:-
- green, bar-coded ID book;
- smartcard ID; or
- valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC).
Only original documents (no copies) are accepted.
IEC Provincial Office
1st Floor
Old Trafford 4
The Isle of Houghton
Houghton Estate
36 Boundary Road
Parktown
Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 644 7400
Fax: (011) 644 7448
Other Notices
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT - EXPROPRIATION OF LAND
The bill for the expropriation of land has been published in the National Gazette for comment. Interestingly, it was done with no announcement
Only 60 days for comments.
DOWNLOAD DRAFT BILL 21 DEC 2018
https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/expropriation-bill/
The bill for the expropriation of land has been published in the National Gazette for comment. Interestingly, it was done with no announcement
Only 60 days for comments.
DOWNLOAD DRAFT BILL 21 DEC 2018
https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/expropriation-bill/
Account Queries/disputes
If you don’t have a valid revenue related query/dispute logged in relation to a disputed amount, you can be cut off for non-payment of that amount.
If you have a dispute with the City, ensure that valid queries/disputes have been logged with the City, in relation to a specific amount that appears on an invoice, for each account balance disputed. If you need more information on what constitutes a ‘valid query/dispute’ see the attached (which was first published last week).
Ensure that you make note of the date on which the query is obtained and the query reference number provided. If the call centre refuses to give you a query reference number, ask for an interaction number instead to prove you tried to log a query and you were refused that right.
Your query/dispute needs to be for an amount equal to or more than the outstanding on the invoice. You can be cut off for R 1 of unpaid debt if you have not disputed it.
The COJ can cut off electricity or water or both, for non-payment of any amount (including rates, refuse and sewer).
Log queries every month because often the COJ closes the queries without resolving them. If you phone to follow up on your query and are told that your query is still open, keep a record of the person who advised you of this and the date and time of the call.
If you have a rates dispute based on the incorrect valuation or categorisation and you have lodged an objection or appeal, log a query with the call centre to advise the COJ of your dispute on the revenue side – the revenue department will not know that you have a dispute based on your objection/appeal at the valuations department because the two departments don’t communicate in that way.
Pre-Termination Notice
If you receive a pre-termination notice deal with it immediately – the sooner you can make contact with the municipality to remind it of your query/dispute the better. Insist on written confirmation or a reference number as proof of confirmation that you will not be cut off.
Arguably you must make payment of the undisputed current charges, or the average of the disputed service in order for your queries to remain as valid. Not making payment could prejudice you in court, getting decent payment terms and/or arranging for reconnection on an urgent basis.
Meters
If you have a dispute pertaining to a faulty meter, you need to apply for a meter test and pay the prescribed fee. If you don’t do this and simply log a query, there is a risk that a court won’t come to your aid because you did not make use of this mechanisms to deal with the problem.
Persuading a contractor not to disconnect
If someone arrives to cut your supply off, ask for a copy of their contractor card from either Joburg Water or City Power, proving that they do actually work for COJ (and/or its subsidiaries). Often fraudsters use notices that they find in the post to illicit bribes by posing as contractors who have been sent to cut off.
Ask them for a copy of the disconnection card which they must leave at your premises when disconnecting you.
It is unlawful to deny the contractors sent to cut you off access to the meters, so don’t deny them access or get aggressive with them (as they may leave and return with the police). It is a criminal offence to deny them access and you may end up defending criminal charges if you deny them access.
Bribes
Do not pay bribes. There is a risk that the dishonest person taking the bribe will tell COJ that he/she cut you off, in which case your meters might be removed entirely if COJ detects that you are still using supply after you have been disconnected. You will then have a much bigger problem to deal with because it can take weeks to have meters and cables restored (or damage done to them when removing repaired), particularly to larger properties.
Pending Dispute
Try to (politely but firmly) persuade them not to disconnect on the basis of your dispute. Show them your documentation (it often helps to keep this handy and to make sure that all of your staff, security, and tenants are aware and have copies handy, just in case). If you have a court order, keep it handy and keep your attorney’s number with the court order, in case you need to contact them urgently.
If this doesn’t work, take photos of the contractors and their vehicles. Ask them for their mobile numbers and full names and ID numbers. This information is needed in order to get them back to reconnect, or if it was a fraudster and not a contractor, to establish that this is the case.
The City often disconnects its consumers on a Friday afternoon, which makes arranging for an urgent reconnection rather difficult. These are the most difficult kinds of disconnections to deal with for logistical reasons, so take care to avoid being disconnected as much as is possible.
Thanks to Schindlers Attorneys
If you don’t have a valid revenue related query/dispute logged in relation to a disputed amount, you can be cut off for non-payment of that amount.
If you have a dispute with the City, ensure that valid queries/disputes have been logged with the City, in relation to a specific amount that appears on an invoice, for each account balance disputed. If you need more information on what constitutes a ‘valid query/dispute’ see the attached (which was first published last week).
Ensure that you make note of the date on which the query is obtained and the query reference number provided. If the call centre refuses to give you a query reference number, ask for an interaction number instead to prove you tried to log a query and you were refused that right.
Your query/dispute needs to be for an amount equal to or more than the outstanding on the invoice. You can be cut off for R 1 of unpaid debt if you have not disputed it.
The COJ can cut off electricity or water or both, for non-payment of any amount (including rates, refuse and sewer).
Log queries every month because often the COJ closes the queries without resolving them. If you phone to follow up on your query and are told that your query is still open, keep a record of the person who advised you of this and the date and time of the call.
If you have a rates dispute based on the incorrect valuation or categorisation and you have lodged an objection or appeal, log a query with the call centre to advise the COJ of your dispute on the revenue side – the revenue department will not know that you have a dispute based on your objection/appeal at the valuations department because the two departments don’t communicate in that way.
Pre-Termination Notice
If you receive a pre-termination notice deal with it immediately – the sooner you can make contact with the municipality to remind it of your query/dispute the better. Insist on written confirmation or a reference number as proof of confirmation that you will not be cut off.
Arguably you must make payment of the undisputed current charges, or the average of the disputed service in order for your queries to remain as valid. Not making payment could prejudice you in court, getting decent payment terms and/or arranging for reconnection on an urgent basis.
Meters
If you have a dispute pertaining to a faulty meter, you need to apply for a meter test and pay the prescribed fee. If you don’t do this and simply log a query, there is a risk that a court won’t come to your aid because you did not make use of this mechanisms to deal with the problem.
Persuading a contractor not to disconnect
If someone arrives to cut your supply off, ask for a copy of their contractor card from either Joburg Water or City Power, proving that they do actually work for COJ (and/or its subsidiaries). Often fraudsters use notices that they find in the post to illicit bribes by posing as contractors who have been sent to cut off.
Ask them for a copy of the disconnection card which they must leave at your premises when disconnecting you.
It is unlawful to deny the contractors sent to cut you off access to the meters, so don’t deny them access or get aggressive with them (as they may leave and return with the police). It is a criminal offence to deny them access and you may end up defending criminal charges if you deny them access.
Bribes
Do not pay bribes. There is a risk that the dishonest person taking the bribe will tell COJ that he/she cut you off, in which case your meters might be removed entirely if COJ detects that you are still using supply after you have been disconnected. You will then have a much bigger problem to deal with because it can take weeks to have meters and cables restored (or damage done to them when removing repaired), particularly to larger properties.
Pending Dispute
Try to (politely but firmly) persuade them not to disconnect on the basis of your dispute. Show them your documentation (it often helps to keep this handy and to make sure that all of your staff, security, and tenants are aware and have copies handy, just in case). If you have a court order, keep it handy and keep your attorney’s number with the court order, in case you need to contact them urgently.
If this doesn’t work, take photos of the contractors and their vehicles. Ask them for their mobile numbers and full names and ID numbers. This information is needed in order to get them back to reconnect, or if it was a fraudster and not a contractor, to establish that this is the case.
The City often disconnects its consumers on a Friday afternoon, which makes arranging for an urgent reconnection rather difficult. These are the most difficult kinds of disconnections to deal with for logistical reasons, so take care to avoid being disconnected as much as is possible.
Thanks to Schindlers Attorneys
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