While many retailers are facing a downturn in business, with the cost of living going up and unemployment reaching an unacceptable high, it seems that those with specialised skills in the building maintenance trade, such as plumbers and electricians, regarded as handymen, are doing a roaring business.
However, complaints against some of these handymen, concerning poor workmanship, or taking deposits and then just disappearing are becoming more common these days.
In one of the latest of such complaints received by the Laudium Sun, a tenant living on Erasmia’s Swanepoel Street, said that he is deeply stressed after a local plumbing business operating under the name Oupa Plumbers allegedly ‘messed-up a repair job,’ for the replacement of a geyser, which the tenant says he had to fork out almost R3k, which he hoped he would recover from the landlord.
Hendrik Modise, the tenant at the Swanepoel Street home, told the Laudium Sun, “So basically what happened is that the geyser at the place that I am renting, suddenly burst and I contacted the landlord who told to me to have it fixed as it was an emergency and that he would reimburse me later. I then went to the local hardware place on Jewel Str, in Laudium, to find out if they had a plumber who could assist. They then recommended the name of Oupa Stelele from ‘Oupa Plumbers.’ So Oupa came out to check what was needed and confirmed that we needed a new geyser. We agreed that he would buy the geyser and all the materials needed and install it, as I was not familiar with what to buy. He quoted me a price of R2900 and I agreed. Later he informed me, while I was away, that the new geyser had been installed. I then made the full payment as I trusted that the job was properly done. However, when I returned home in the evening, I immediately noticed that there was a leak coming from the copper pipe at the top. I have videos and photos clearly showing the extent of the leak and it was quite severe. It then became clear to me that the plumber had deliberately switched off one of the valves so that the leak would not be visible during his so-called completion of the job. The moment I turned the valve back on, the water started
leaking significantly. I contacted Oupa straight away and he returned the next day to fix that specific leak. However, while inspecting further, I realised that the thermostat from the old geyser, which was in the roof, was missing. When I questioned Oupa about it, he admitted that he took it and went to his vehicle to fetch it. The day thereafter, I noticed that the passage ceiling directly below where the geyser was installed, was completely wet and badly damaged. It seemed to me that when the plumber disconnected the old geyser, he failed to properly drain it, allowing all the water to spill into the rafters’ space, thus leaking through the ceiling below. The ceiling is now sagging badly due to the water damage. To make matters worse, one of the plumber’s workers who came back again to check the cause of the ceiling leak, stepped onto the already wet ceiling, causing it to collapse, leaving a big hole. Since then, we have been trying to get Oupa to come back and fix the damage, but it has been an ongoing struggle. For weeks there have been empty promises, with excuses that he is waiting for the area to dry before repairs can be done, yet nothing has been resolved. Every attempt to contact him has been frustrating, as he either ignores calls or cuts them off. The level of service provided by Oupa and his team has been extremely poor and unprofessional. There is a serious concern about the way he operates his business, as the workmanship has not only been substandard but has also put the safety of those living on the property at risk. My experience has shown a complete lack of accountability and professionalism.”
Mohammed Omar, owner of the Swanepoel Str home, told the Laudium Sun, “From what I was informed by my tenant, the plumbing company failed to carry out the work to an acceptable standard and the situation has now escalated because they are no longer answering any calls or responding to messages. The condition of the ceilings has deteriorated significantly and I was alerted by the tenant that it has become unstable and unsafe. There are serious concerns that it could give way at any moment, which places the occupants at considerable risk. I find it unacceptable that after payment was made for the service, the work was left incomplete and in such poor condition. There is a responsibility that comes with being hired to perform a job and in this case, that responsibility has not been met. The lack of communication and avoidance of calls only makes matters worse and shows a disregard for both the client and the seriousness of the issue at hand. I strongly urge Oupa the plumber to return to the property and complete the work properly, ensuring that all damages are repaired and that the installation is safe and secure. There is also a need for accountability, as situations like this should not be ignored or left unresolved.”
Oupa Stelele, owner of Oupa Plumbers, told the Laudium Sun, “I went to install the geyser at that house in Erasmia and they were supposed to have supplied the materials. Before they went to buy the materials, I told the owner that he must not buy the materials from a certain hardware store. I also advised where he could get good quality materials in Laudium, such as Easy Build or Munaf, but he did not listen to me. He told me to wait for the materials to be supplied. I then continued with the installation and completed the work, but afterwards the fittings started to come out from the pipes. I even used my own materials, which are of good quality, and I did not charge them for it.”
