Residents of Wentworth in Durban Raise Concern Over High Billing System

Residents of Wentworth, in the south of Durban, are concerned about the electricity billing system in their area, citing exorbitant bills.

(The Post News)- The community of Wentworth in Durban’s southern region has expressed outrage and frustration over the electricity billing system, which they claim is charging them excessive and unaffordable rates.

With a significant number of households in the area struggling to make ends meet, residents are finding it difficult to pay for electricity, which is a basic necessity.

They feel that the high bills are a violation of their fundamental rights, exacerbating the already dire situation of poverty and economic hardship that many families are facing.

The residents are demanding a fair and transparent billing system that takes into account their economic realities and does not perpetuate their struggles.

The eThekwini Metro has acknowledged the concerns and challenges raised by the residents of Wentworth regarding the electricity billing system.

One of the residents shared her personal experience, describing how she repeatedly approached the authorities to dispute her exorbitant bill, only to be told that she had to pay the full amount.

She explained that she was unemployed and couldn’t afford the monthly payments, let alone the total amount of R30,000.

Despite her pleas, she was unable to come to a resolution with the authorities.

In a desperate bid to find a solution, the resident visited the electricity department and requested assistance with installing a prepaid meter.

She was informed that if she purchased tokens, a portion of the amount would be deducted to offset her outstanding arrears.

Agreeing to this proposal, she has been waiting for over two years for the installation to take place, but it has yet to materialise.

Her frustration and desperation are palpable as she continues to struggle with the unaffordable electricity bills, highlighting the urgent need for a more compassionate and effective approach to addressing the issue.

Another resident also said in her interview with SABC news, “I have been waiting from last year till now, my lights are R27 000. I get a disability grant, there are people in our community who get disability grants and pensions. How do they pay, if they say to pay R2 000 a month, how do you buy food? How do you live like this? No, it’s wrong, I feel it’s not right what they are doing to us.”

Residents are hoping that this time their concerns will be resolved quickly, and they have better electricity in the neighbourhood after fighting the same situation for almost three years

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