After being entangled in a public relations nightmare with the Johannesburg City Power over non-payment, property group HOMII Life Style has sought to clarify the misdemeanor.
Speaking for the first time to Sunday World on Monday, the company, which underpins itself on a tech-based residential and lifestyle solution, said it has taken a legal recourse after the tiff insisting that the matter was blown out of proportion.
“We acknowledge and share the concerns of Homii guests and the public arising from the allegations raised against the organisation. We confirm a dispute of facts surrounding the issue of an alleged illegal connection,” explained HOMII.
“The allegations that were made are untrue. Our employees were rather called in to give statements surrounding the investigation of the competing City Power service providers.”
Last week, City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the company in question had transgressed when it illegally tried to reconnect itself after allegedly being disconnected for failure to service its electricity bill.
Mangena further said the City Power security risk management team arrested four suspects for embarking on the illegal reconnection.
“The inner city service delivery centre team were conducting an audit of defaulting businesses that they had previously disconnected in order to identify businesses that might try to reconnect.
“As they arrived at HOMII, a company operating in Masharltown, central Johannesburg they discovered two suspects working inside City Power transformer chamber reconnecting the company,” said City Power in a statement.
Following the debacle, disgruntled tenants took their frustration on social media, but the company said it was addressing the concerns of the affected tenants. This included committing to settling the amount owed to the City Power.
“We have already paid a down payment of R410 000 to have the electricity restored,” the property group said.
HOMII, which has branches in Western Cape, Durban and Johannesburg, was established few years ago. It is branded on cosy and comfortable living for young professionals.
It was part of the urban renewal project adopted by government where inner city dilapidated buildings are turned into decent living spaces.
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