The report I heard via the grapevine was that there was a fire at the Durban Metro, and that the rates department computer systems were affected.

Well there was a fire.....in the Air-conditioning units and they did not have air- conditioning in the computer room. The obvious thing to do, so that the systems down overheat is to switch them off! I think that was on Wednesday the 24th.

Today 26th February 2010, the air-conditioning to the server room has been restored and the electronic rates department is back up and running.

Deven says they will work this weekend and then re-access the situation on Monday.

The short staffed issue in the clearance department does not help.