Johannesburg - Property owners and developers have applied
for an urgent interdict in a bid to halt the City of Johannesburg from
illegally cutting water and electricity supplies, according to a report on
Monday.
The Business Day reported that according to papers filed in the Johannesburg High Court on Monday, the city did not comply with its legislated obligations.
There were 12 applicants, including the Property Owners and
Managers Association.
If granted the order would affect everyone entitled to basic
municipal services in Johannesburg, Maurice Crespi of Schindlers Attorneys told
the publication.
Crespi said the applicants were bringing the application in
their own interest as they were affected by the city's conduct.
City spokesperson Nthatise Modingoane told the publication the court papers had been received and the city would respond in due course.
The second part of the application sought a declaration that the city had breached its constitutional and statutory obligations to ensure the proper administration of billing of municipal accounts for services like water and electricity. The applicants cited 16 legal duties the city had failed to comply with.