{"id":148165,"date":"2017-03-31T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-31T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/148165\/guardian-angel-helps-elderly-resident\/"},"modified":"2017-03-31T11:02:29","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T09:02:29","slug":"guardian-angel-helps-elderly-resident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/opinion-edition\/2017\/03\/31\/guardian-angel-helps-elderly-resident\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardian angel helps elderly resident"},"content":{"rendered":"

Penny Rabe, daughter of a Hazeldene resident, writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is seldom in today\u2019s time that one individual goes to such extreme lengths to assist a citizen in the community.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

At 9.30am on March 24 Ekurhuleni disconnected my elderly mum\u2019s electricity.<\/p>\n

I logged a call to the powers that be and was given a reference number.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

They were unable to, or, would not say what the problem was.<\/p>\n

Continuous follow-ups to this call centre were fruitless.<\/p>\n

I informed the Lambton Chat WhatsApp Group and the CPF of the problem.<\/p>\n

Being left in the dark for senior citizen is not a pleasant experience at all.<\/p>\n

At 5.45pm that day, Lornette Joseph sent me private text asking me for all details of problem, as well as the call reference number.<\/p>\n

Lornette continuously kept me informed on the problem, and assured me of mum\u2019s safety during the night.<\/p>\n

By 9.45pm the communication link to Aid Call, to which mum is linked, had failed as the back-up battery is on 12 hours, as well as electric gate access to the property.<\/p>\n

Early Saturday morning continuous calls to the call centre remained fruitless.<\/p>\n

At 7.40am on Saturday, Lornette informed me that they had cut the power as mum was in arrears. Her March account actually reflects a credit of R1 905.45.<\/p>\n

Apparently the property next to mum was in fact the defaulter.<\/p>\n

Lornette advised that unless I presented proof of this to the actual council office, no one would help me.<\/p>\n

So after sitting at the council office for what seemed forever I presented account statements to the clerk, who agreed the account was in credit and blatantly denied that mum\u2019s electricity had been cut.<\/p>\n

I sent all details to Lornette who assured me that she would ensure mum would be reconnected.<\/p>\n

At 3.04pm, two individuals arrived at the pole outside mum\u2019s house in Hazeldene, climbed onto a ladder and removed a pin from the top of the pole, which they threw into bakkie, and we had lights!<\/p>\n

They advised that as they cannot read the numbers on the poles, they had disconnected the incorrect house.<\/p>\n

No apology at all, just an attitude of total absence of liability of their error.<\/p>\n

Had Lornette not intervened I would never been told the truth of the council blunder.<\/p>\n

Shocking that we are forced to pay for services that do not exist.<\/p>\n

Lornette you are a guardian angel.<\/p>\n

Thank you so much.<\/p>\n

I honestly appreciate all your assistance.<\/p>\n

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