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25 de novembro COJ cuts power The word "amusing" comes to mind when trying to describe government service delivery in South Africa, particularly when it involves the City of Johannesburg (COJ) administrative office for accounts, electricity, rates and taxes. The latest "amusing" situation is seemingly the result of incompetence, failing internal business processes and certainly amazing lack of effort from individuals working for municipal departments. My current experience was a b managing agent, an entity to settle electricity on behalf of a collection of sectional title property owners, made payment to settle an electricity bill for a 14 story building with approx 6 apartments per floor, therefore +- 84 apartments and probably 12 shops on ground level. The building is located in a very established part of Johannesburg central to transport, businesses and shops. Payment was made and submitted together with proof-of-payment to COJ for processing. It appears that COJ did not process this in time and marked the electricity supply to this building for suspension. On Friday morning, 20th of November, they cut the entire 14 story building, 84 apartments with 3 elevators, and 12 shops off from the power grid. Owners, tenants and businesses were left without power from 19th November till no less than today, 24th of November, 6 days already. Occupants had to climb 14 stories of stairs, had no hot showers, could not entertain themselves, not cook, not even switch on the lights nor keep produce fresh without refrigeration. A director of the managing agents emailed COJ out of shear desperation a rather "amusing" assault on Monday moring:
The above letter was addressed to 7 (yes, seven) members (and seniors) of COJ with a long list of tenants/owners on the CC in an attempt to prompt action. It seems, almost predictable from past experience, that not even a single employee of COJ cared to respond, still leaving the building without power. A rather conservative email followed from the building manager (of the managing agents) to the COJ 7 member strong email recipients: "Dear Respective COJ Management
We kindly ask for some accountability for these matters, and to assist in the reconnection of the electricity and the amendment of the accounts and tariffs." My own attempts to instigate a response were only met this morning (note, today is Tuesday, 24th November, day 6 of no power), by a director in the finance department reading:
The day progressed rather uneventfully after this blatant dismissal of wrong nor any responsibility to resolve the matter until an email shot over at 3:42pm read: and
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