The City of Johannesburg is trying to find out whether former President Nelson Mandela owes it more than R6,000 for services.
Eyewitness News is in possession of a copy of a pre-termination notice dated 1 August that was stuck to the elder statesman’s Houghton home over the weekend.
The notice states that his account has been in arrears for over 30 days. It also indicates that his services will be cut off and legal action taken unless the amount, listed as R6,468.48, is settled within 14 days.
City Power has not confirmed whether his account is actually in arrears. It has also not ruled out the possibility that the notice was stuck to the wrong door or is a case of irregular billing.
The city has been plagued by billing problems over the past few years with many customers laying complaints for incorrect statements or being over-charged.
The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory has distanced itself from the allegations, saying the city should verify its facts. It has denied Madiba owes any outstanding amounts relating to services.
The organisation has further called on the City of Joburg to respond to the allegations.
The city has promised to comment on the matter later today.
The issue comes as Madiba enters his second month in hospital for a recurring lung infection.
According to Sapa, it was quiet outside the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Sunday where former president Nelson Mandela was receiving treatment.
Some people stopped to take pictures of the hospital’s wall, where people had pasted messages of support.
Mandela was admitted to the hospital on June 8 with a recurring lung infection. – Eyewitness News and Sapa