We at the Taxed Voter Community would love to know what all the political dynamo’s on the west rand actually offer to the voters?
Since the last election, Florida is under siege by all kinds of undesirables who are attracted to the area mainly, it appears, due to the greed displayed by the less than handful of commercial property owners who own the property along Goldman Street.
There are two commercial properties along the most dense part of Goldman street that are being maintained within an acceptable standard. And the properties are actually being fully utilised for businesses that have tremendous goodwill. We wonder how long that will last, in an environment that is clearly attracting drug users? Is there an unhealthy cartel developing in the Florida CBD, if so who is at the helm?
Additionally, SANCA it seems, may have become an ineffective haven for people who appear to have no intention to be relieved of their addiction. Why are there so many vagrant, addicted youths drawn to the Florida CBD? What is the pay off? Are you as a resident compounding the problem by giving them handouts?
Is the purpose to drive out further valuable business? Is the idea to devalue the commercial property in the CBD to give property developers the opportunity to buy up the property at next to nothing?
The handful of commercial property owners in the Florida CBD should be aware that their activity is being observed.
Letters to the editor by various councillors are continually being printed in the Roodepoort Record. However, what purpose do these letters serve? It sounds as if the councillors are venting? Is it not more appropriate that voters of the district vent in the letters section and that the array of councillors rather report back to the community on the wins they have accomplished in their duty as councillor(s) serving the electorate.
What particularly has for example, Clr Dave Dewes accomplished over the past couple of years in his capacity as councillor of, is it Ward 70? Besides what appears to be, pushing a personal agenda that seems centred around personal/business gains regarding property development. [Station to move? article 23 October 2009]
If Florida is so dear to this councillor’s heart, why has the CBD degraded significantly over the past while that he has been the elected councillor?
As voters and tax payers we do not condone behaviour by councillors that leave the community negatively impacted. We elect councillors to serve the community.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Caxton readers lament weekly about CoJ especially electricity
Week after week the readers of Caxton local rags write in to the editors to lament about the abuse of CoJ and it's representatives on the inhabitants of the City of Johannesburg.
The problem appears to be exasperated by CITY POWER not Eskom alone. City Power's pricing is a minefield to work through.
Willem Malherbe, delightfully likens treatment of CoJ inhabitants who are expected to accept and pay as follows, imagine:
"Buy a new car and it is only 60% operational...thank you very much here is your money (to the dealer).
Take a car for a service and only 60% of the job is done, but you pay with a smile.
Buy R1 000 groceries and take only 60% of the items home with you.
Buy a R100 petrol and the attendant only places R60 in your tank. (p.s. beware of the petrol attendant scam that IS taking place in the west rand. Check that the pump is on ZERO before the attendant starts!)
Order a restaurant meal and the waiter only arrives with 60% of the food ordered."
Upset from Roodepoort's humorous account on the query regarding the R226 monthly service charge on bill was met with:
"you pay R226 for external people to read your meter and to send your bill. The R29 is for future projects.
What future projects?
"No sir, we don't know."
Is fraud on of your future projects?
"I don't know Sir."
Pieter Groenewald "Dit help nie om getroue betalers te straf vir die verbruikers wat dit wel kan bekostig maar nie betaal nie"
and
"45% verhoging per jaar deur Eskom absurd. Somige besighede sal dit nie kan bekostig nie en dit sal werksverliese tot gevolg hè."
Journalist Adriaan Roets' article states: "electricity consumer whose monthly bill is now R 1 000, will be paying over R3 000 by March 2013. It's more than a 200 percent increase."
However, this does not take into account the middleman we all know and love CITY POWER, who do NOT appear to have to request NERSA approval to charge the electricity user and price they wish. What exactly is the value that City Power adds to users of ESKOM electricity.
Pieter Labuschagne places it all in prospective as a user of City Power's prepaid electricity meter. "The following statistics came to light:
~ cost of units purchased July 2007-June 2008 = 43 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT
~ cost of units purchased July 2008-June 2009 = 68 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT (58% inc)
~ cost of units purchased July 2009 to date = 81 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT (19% inc)
It is proclaimed that we pay around 33 cents per KWH. With the proposed increased of 45% from 2010 to 2013, citizens will be paying around 88 centrs per kwh/unit.
I am NOW paying 81 cents per kwh/unit! Are prepaid customers being discriminated against?"
This is not the 1st complaint I have come across regarding City Powers lack of transparency regarding their pricing SEE What is going on at City Power. I am not sure whether Pieter's calculations include or exclude the famous Demand Side Management DSM levy.
Mike Moriarty DA Spokesman warns "I have been informed that the long-awaited Programme Phakama is about to be launched as a pilot in the Roodepoort area. This programme is supposed to resolve Johannesburg Billing System, which has been problematic for over a decade. This despite several failed attempts to fix it. I have no confidence in the council's ability to roll out a new computer system without mistakes of the largest kind. Please watch your municipal bills closely over the the next few months. Billing errors will come. I hope the council will prove me wrong."
The problem appears to be exasperated by CITY POWER not Eskom alone. City Power's pricing is a minefield to work through.
Willem Malherbe, delightfully likens treatment of CoJ inhabitants who are expected to accept and pay as follows, imagine:
"Buy a new car and it is only 60% operational...thank you very much here is your money (to the dealer).
Take a car for a service and only 60% of the job is done, but you pay with a smile.
Buy R1 000 groceries and take only 60% of the items home with you.
Buy a R100 petrol and the attendant only places R60 in your tank. (p.s. beware of the petrol attendant scam that IS taking place in the west rand. Check that the pump is on ZERO before the attendant starts!)
Order a restaurant meal and the waiter only arrives with 60% of the food ordered."
Upset from Roodepoort's humorous account on the query regarding the R226 monthly service charge on bill was met with:
"you pay R226 for external people to read your meter and to send your bill. The R29 is for future projects.
What future projects?
"No sir, we don't know."
Is fraud on of your future projects?
"I don't know Sir."
Pieter Groenewald "Dit help nie om getroue betalers te straf vir die verbruikers wat dit wel kan bekostig maar nie betaal nie"
and
"45% verhoging per jaar deur Eskom absurd. Somige besighede sal dit nie kan bekostig nie en dit sal werksverliese tot gevolg hè."
Journalist Adriaan Roets' article states: "electricity consumer whose monthly bill is now R 1 000, will be paying over R3 000 by March 2013. It's more than a 200 percent increase."
However, this does not take into account the middleman we all know and love CITY POWER, who do NOT appear to have to request NERSA approval to charge the electricity user and price they wish. What exactly is the value that City Power adds to users of ESKOM electricity.
Pieter Labuschagne places it all in prospective as a user of City Power's prepaid electricity meter. "The following statistics came to light:
~ cost of units purchased July 2007-June 2008 = 43 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT
~ cost of units purchased July 2008-June 2009 = 68 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT (58% inc)
~ cost of units purchased July 2009 to date = 81 cents per kwh/unit excl VAT (19% inc)
It is proclaimed that we pay around 33 cents per KWH. With the proposed increased of 45% from 2010 to 2013, citizens will be paying around 88 centrs per kwh/unit.
I am NOW paying 81 cents per kwh/unit! Are prepaid customers being discriminated against?"
This is not the 1st complaint I have come across regarding City Powers lack of transparency regarding their pricing SEE What is going on at City Power. I am not sure whether Pieter's calculations include or exclude the famous Demand Side Management DSM levy.
Mike Moriarty DA Spokesman warns "I have been informed that the long-awaited Programme Phakama is about to be launched as a pilot in the Roodepoort area. This programme is supposed to resolve Johannesburg Billing System, which has been problematic for over a decade. This despite several failed attempts to fix it. I have no confidence in the council's ability to roll out a new computer system without mistakes of the largest kind. Please watch your municipal bills closely over the the next few months. Billing errors will come. I hope the council will prove me wrong."
Pick 'n Pay Goldman street - light pollution
I wonder if the Pick 'n Pay brand managers are aware of the degree of light pollution the store in Goldman street in Florida is producing.
The birds tweet all night because when you look outside it looks like DAWN!
Why don't they illuminate their store instead of illuminating the neighbouring plots?
Lighting placed so high up should shine down, not outward. Who authorised them to infringe on the rights of the neighbourhood residents?
Some soccer fields will blush when they compare their lighting to the rear entrance lighting at Pick 'n Pay Goldman Street in Florida.
The birds tweet all night because when you look outside it looks like DAWN!
Why don't they illuminate their store instead of illuminating the neighbouring plots?
Lighting placed so high up should shine down, not outward. Who authorised them to infringe on the rights of the neighbourhood residents?
Some soccer fields will blush when they compare their lighting to the rear entrance lighting at Pick 'n Pay Goldman Street in Florida.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Genius?? of www.mygenius.com!
Wow, that is quite unprofessional
So the users of the site are VERY low on the list of priorities at mygenius.com!
My Genius "helps take members business to another level" right off the system it seems!
-----------------------------------------------------
On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM, John Raath wrote:
Sally can I recommend you join at the new site (old address www.mygenius.com), you unfortunately joined the old site just after we grabbed all the data and took it across to the new one…so sorry for the inconvenience..
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 21 September 2009 09:29 AM
To: John Raath
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
I got my welcome to MYGENIUS email on 16 August
----------------------------------------------------------
On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM, John Raath wrote:
A week ago or so
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 16 September 2009 01:41 PM
To: John Raath
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
When did you port?
-----------------------------------------------------------
On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 9:43 AM, John Raath wrote:
Sally…we have ported all members across to the new site. As a new member – it’s possible that you may have joined the old site just before the porting…which is unfortunate…and I apologise. The best thing will be to join up on the new site afresh…
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 15 September 2009 09:27 PM
To: admin@mygenius.com
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
My Genius Team
Why can I not log in, I notice that the site looks different
Sally
-------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:43 AM, wrote:
Dear Sally
The purpose of MyGenius is to take members' businesses to another level. It seems like you're making progress on that journey and we're glad to note you've been upgraded to Explorer membership.
As an Explorer, you can start a blog, join a club and attend a free trial MyGenius meeting near you. The community will see your photo on the home page and on the view more...
I hope you enjoy your time as an Explorer and we look forward to welcoming you as a Genius soon...where real business breakthroughs are happening.
Congrats Sally!
The MyGenius Team
So the users of the site are VERY low on the list of priorities at mygenius.com!
My Genius "helps take members business to another level" right off the system it seems!
-----------------------------------------------------
On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM, John Raath wrote:
Sally can I recommend you join at the new site (old address www.mygenius.com), you unfortunately joined the old site just after we grabbed all the data and took it across to the new one…so sorry for the inconvenience..
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 21 September 2009 09:29 AM
To: John Raath
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
I got my welcome to MYGENIUS email on 16 August
----------------------------------------------------------
On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:25 PM, John Raath wrote:
A week ago or so
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 16 September 2009 01:41 PM
To: John Raath
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
When did you port?
-----------------------------------------------------------
On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 9:43 AM, John Raath wrote:
Sally…we have ported all members across to the new site. As a new member – it’s possible that you may have joined the old site just before the porting…which is unfortunate…and I apologise. The best thing will be to join up on the new site afresh…
Best regards
John Raath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sally Wrote Sent: 15 September 2009 09:27 PM
To: admin@mygenius.com
Subject: Re: You're moving up in the world!
My Genius Team
Why can I not log in, I notice that the site looks different
Sally
-------------------------------------------------------------------
On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:43 AM,
Dear Sally
The purpose of MyGenius is to take members' businesses to another level. It seems like you're making progress on that journey and we're glad to note you've been upgraded to Explorer membership.
As an Explorer, you can start a blog, join a club and attend a free trial MyGenius meeting near you. The community will see your photo on the home page and on the view more...
I hope you enjoy your time as an Explorer and we look forward to welcoming you as a Genius soon...where real business breakthroughs are happening.
Congrats Sally!
The MyGenius Team
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Letter to Caxton Paper by Councillor Rae Baur Sept 4, 2009
A rather amazing phenomenon, when it comes to electricity or water cut-offs for late payments to the cities' billing departments, is how often they occur on a late Friday afternoon. This almost predictable occurrence of cut-offs is sure to coincide with the departure of officials for the weekend away from their desks and precludes the affected parties from having their electricity or water reconnected for a few days at least.
Often notices of the proposed cut-offs do not happen, so persons are unable to get their payments made to prevent not only an inconvenience, but if anyone affected is on life-support necessitating uninterrupted electricity supply their very lives are at risk be they elderly, tiny babies or persons with serious medical conditions.
At the bottom of each statement for service delivery from entities such as City Power and Joburg Water there is a fine line, small-print notice that states that the City "MAY" inform its customers of intended disconnections.
Even if an account is less than 30 days overdue, persons have received letters of "Final Demand:, I being one of them!
This certainly does not generate goodwill amongst the paying customers that the City depends upon, especially in the light of the R11 billion in unpaid debts for services that the City had to write off in two years recently.
Accountability in the office of those keeping track of defaulters allowed this situation to escalate to the point where businesses and individuals owed the City for their electricity and water hundreds of thousands of rands which finally were irrecoverable, with no timeous cut-offs, one may add.
It appears that the steady, reliable homeowners in the suburbs are the targets of instant cash recovery with an added bonus of "disconnection" and "reconnection" charges of around R1300 per cut-off, apparently paid to the "Contractors" who do this rather mean job.
Generally, homeowners or residents do not even get to see the aforementioned "Contractor" and the charge for this dubious service merely appears on the next monthly service statement.
To dispute this added cost to the monthly account falls ultimately on deaf ears.
What is of obvious concern is that for each disconnection or reconnection there is a charge which a "Contractor" garners and questions or corruption could easily fly around.
The more disconnections/reconnection's carried out, the More the "Contractor" will receive.
One need not be a rocket scientist to work out the economic benefits to "Contractors" and the economic burden placed o the "Customer"
These "Contractors" are appearing to be like "bounty hunters" and the hunted are the ordinary citizens delivered by the City to the residents.
It is high time that persons passing on the names of customers targeted for cut-offs to "Contractors" come under scrutiny. Responsible decisions, proper business ethic, and integrity are necessary when it comes to debt recovery in a concern as large as the City of Johannesburg's billing department.
Naturally, if the customer receives delivery of water and electricity based on a flat rate payment of about R75 per month, then there will be no cut-offs, irrespective if the consumption is ten times that for which was paid, and that the several shacks in the back of the house are also drawing off water and electricity at an equivalent level to say the least, from the one source.
This disconnection/reconnection fee is seen as punitive and certainly excessive. No one has broken the law by having a late payment or an arrears account due to a dispute with the billing department of the City regarding either water or electricity consumption. Cases regarding the activities of the City have been taken to court and the customers have won cases based on an outcome that is illegal to cut off services in the way mentioned above.
Often notices of the proposed cut-offs do not happen, so persons are unable to get their payments made to prevent not only an inconvenience, but if anyone affected is on life-support necessitating uninterrupted electricity supply their very lives are at risk be they elderly, tiny babies or persons with serious medical conditions.
At the bottom of each statement for service delivery from entities such as City Power and Joburg Water there is a fine line, small-print notice that states that the City "MAY" inform its customers of intended disconnections.
Even if an account is less than 30 days overdue, persons have received letters of "Final Demand:, I being one of them!
This certainly does not generate goodwill amongst the paying customers that the City depends upon, especially in the light of the R11 billion in unpaid debts for services that the City had to write off in two years recently.
Accountability in the office of those keeping track of defaulters allowed this situation to escalate to the point where businesses and individuals owed the City for their electricity and water hundreds of thousands of rands which finally were irrecoverable, with no timeous cut-offs, one may add.
It appears that the steady, reliable homeowners in the suburbs are the targets of instant cash recovery with an added bonus of "disconnection" and "reconnection" charges of around R1300 per cut-off, apparently paid to the "Contractors" who do this rather mean job.
Generally, homeowners or residents do not even get to see the aforementioned "Contractor" and the charge for this dubious service merely appears on the next monthly service statement.
To dispute this added cost to the monthly account falls ultimately on deaf ears.
What is of obvious concern is that for each disconnection or reconnection there is a charge which a "Contractor" garners and questions or corruption could easily fly around.
The more disconnections/reconnection's carried out, the More the "Contractor" will receive.
One need not be a rocket scientist to work out the economic benefits to "Contractors" and the economic burden placed o the "Customer"
These "Contractors" are appearing to be like "bounty hunters" and the hunted are the ordinary citizens delivered by the City to the residents.
It is high time that persons passing on the names of customers targeted for cut-offs to "Contractors" come under scrutiny. Responsible decisions, proper business ethic, and integrity are necessary when it comes to debt recovery in a concern as large as the City of Johannesburg's billing department.
Naturally, if the customer receives delivery of water and electricity based on a flat rate payment of about R75 per month, then there will be no cut-offs, irrespective if the consumption is ten times that for which was paid, and that the several shacks in the back of the house are also drawing off water and electricity at an equivalent level to say the least, from the one source.
This disconnection/reconnection fee is seen as punitive and certainly excessive. No one has broken the law by having a late payment or an arrears account due to a dispute with the billing department of the City regarding either water or electricity consumption. Cases regarding the activities of the City have been taken to court and the customers have won cases based on an outcome that is illegal to cut off services in the way mentioned above.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Are you tired of local government taking you for a ride??
Click through to see what a professional approach to problem solving can achieve:
http://joburgratesboycott.blogspot.com/
Are you willing to sign the petition?
Would you be willing to participate in a class action?
Or would you rather bitch about the state of affairs around the water cooler or braai.
Take action with a group of SOLUTION ORIENTED rate payers.
http://joburgratesboycott.blogspot.com/
http://joburgratesboycott.blogspot.com/
Are you willing to sign the petition?
Would you be willing to participate in a class action?
Or would you rather bitch about the state of affairs around the water cooler or braai.
Take action with a group of SOLUTION ORIENTED rate payers.
http://joburgratesboycott.blogspot.com/
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