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The IFP has called for an urgent investigation of the Emfuleni Municipality
billing system, which has cost residents of Palm Springs thousands of rands.
"It is shocking to learn that some residents are receiving water bills
amounting to R100 000. The municipality billing system must be investigated
in order to establish what exactly went wrong. Some residents have been
blacklisted as they are said to owe exorbitant amounts, even though it is
evidently clear that this is not the case" said IFP spokesperson on
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon Peter Smith MP.

"The municipality must sort out this issue urgently and must make sure that
it assists all residents who are mistakenly blacklisted to clear their
names. In addition, the municipality must make sure that it provides
residents with the correct figures of what they owe, and that the water
supply is restored to the community" said Smith.

The mayor, Greta Hlongwane, blames the billing errors on a company that was
hired to estimate the water usage in the area. The IFP calls on the mayor to
ensure that the companies hired by the municipality limit such mistakes and
do their work properly, because the effects of these mistakes are felt by
the residents.