Amidst the recent flooding, the Newcastle Municipality confirmed that its Emergency Services and Customer Care numbers are down.
While speculations are running rife about the cause of the telephones being down, the Newcastle Municipality urged residents to exercise patience as it works on resolving the issue.
Providing alternative numbers, the municipality’s Communications Department encouraged Newcastillians to utilise the following alternative numbers in the interim:
-
Customer Call Centre 24 Hours (for water and sanitation related matters)
- WhatsApp on 082 419 8533
- Call on 079 294 5811/073 180 3708
-
Emergency Services
- 079 542 8228
Seeking further clarification for residents on the matter, Newcastillian News issued a media enquiry to the Newcastle Municipality. This was done in order to determine the cause of the issue— as the lines being down pose a problem for residents in contacting firefighters, traffic officers and so forth in an emergency.
The Newcastle Municipality is expected to respond on the matter within the course of the week.
Furthermore, the Newcastle Municipality was brought up by residents in the context of officials’ phones not working. Thereby, hampering communications between the officials and those working on the ground.
However, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Dr Imran Keeka stepped up to defend the Newcastle Municipality, elaborating on the matter.
“There has been a problem with all officials’ phones because of a migration of cellphone contracts from Vodacom to MTN,” Dr Keeka began, stating that Vodacom ended all contracts on 13 February 2023 without the migration being complete.
While not elaborating on why the contracts were cancelled prior to the migration being complete, Dr Keeka explained this has caused part of the communication mayhem between those working on the ground and municipal officials.
Dr Keeka further stressed that he had experienced similar issues in the past in his personal experience and that the Municipality’s problems were justified.
“I am not here making excuses for anyone, except that I wish to highlight the problem,” he emphasised.
Having spoken to the relevant officials about the breakdown in communication, Dr Keeka explained that the respective Municipal officials and personnel have distributed their personal numbers to the relevant individuals until the situation is remedied, to ensure service delivery continues.
As Newcastle Municipality works to resolve its telephone woes, what are your thoughts? Be sure to look out for the follow-up article!
Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 1
We are tired of Newcastle Municipalities excuses!
The line to the electrical dept has been down for 5 weeks now! When I went there 2 weeks ago, they gave me a number which they knew was not working!
Bills are so high but nothing seems to be working at that Municipality! We are expected to pay on time & are cut off when we don’t. Now, we pay on time so DELIVER! MAINTAIN & STOP BEING LAZY TO DO YOUR JOBS!!!