Premier Oscar Mabuyane has ordered the Buffalo City Metro to sort out its infamous billing system and service delivery issues which have irked residents. Mabuyane intervened after protesters disrupted the handover of the newly constructed Sophathisana Senior Secondary School in Reeston, East London, by the premier and education MEC Fundile Gade this week.
In just the first week of 2023, a battle was unleashed between the Buffalo City Metro and ratepayers when Quigney businessman Steve Bloom decided to take the city head-on citing years of incorrect billing on his account.Bloom told the Dispatch at the time that he had sent emails and visited the city’s billing offices for years without any help.
Buffalo City Metro’s staff owe the city R12.7m in rates arrears, while the city’s councillors are in arrears to the tune of R112,200. Now the city, facing dwindling cash reserves due to poor revenue collection, has announced measures to clamp down on people who do not pay their rates.