eThekwini pensioner wins R160,000 municipal bill write-off after three-year dispute

Staff Reporter

A 73-year-old resident of Whetstone, Phoenix, has had R160,000 municipal debt written off after a three-year billing dispute.

Phillip Patrick Christopher said the dispute began in 2021 and grew into a six-figure amount while he moved between municipal departments seeking answers.

“At my age, this kind of pressure takes a toll,” Christopher said.

“I went back and forth so many times, carrying the same documents, explaining the same story, and still nothing changed. I was starting to think I’d spend the rest of my life fighting this account.”

eThekwini Municipality has faced widespread criticism for persistent billing errors affecting residents, such as inflated charges, inaccurate estimates, and unresolved disputes.

The metro launched a new revenue management system called Customer to Meter (C2M) in November, with full implementation scheduled for July 2026.

Christopher’s matter was resolved after intervention by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillor Dr Jonathan Annipen, who said