KZN doctor’s insane R2.8 million utility bill

Updated May 14, 2025, 5:52 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast

A KZN doctor got a R2.8 million electricity bill! Was he powering the entire province or something?

Have you ever received a bill so shocking, your heart skips a beat and you start to question your existence?

Well, that’s probably what happened to one Reservoir Hills doctor when he opened his latest municipal utility bill.

He probably had to check if he was being charged for lighting up the entire province.

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IOL dropped this jaw-dropping news about Dr Terence Govender, who was minding his business in Reservoir Hills, when he got the shock of his life.

In April 2025, a bill from eThekwini Municipality (for March 2025) landed at a modest R2.8 million.

Yes. Million. Not for a mansion with an Olympic-sized pool and ten geysers though. It was just an average suburban home.

His normal monthly bill usually floats around R8 500, which sounds about right for a house with a fridge, a TV, and maybe a teenager who thinks electricity is free.

So you can imagine his shock when March’s bill hit a casual R2.7 million.

KZN doc utility bill — Denzil Govender / Facebook

The breakdown is where the comedy writes itself:

Rates: R1 820 (reasonable)

Water and Sanitation: R1 276 (standard)

Cleansing and Solid Waste: R256 (okay, cool)

Electricity: wait for it - R2.3 MILLION

VAT: R358 311 (because why not?)

By the time Apri rolled around, the bill settled down to a humble R91 000.

Under the circumstances, this probably felt like a Black Friday special.

After rightfully losing his mind, Govender lodged a complaint, and a municipal official eventually rocked up at his doorstep to “investigate”.

Speaking to IOL, Terence said he’s usually a good payer.

So good, in fact, that he often pays extra just to avoid the horror stories you hear about municipal call centres.

However, even he drew the line at a R2.8 million invoice.

“I’m not sure where they thumb sucked these figures from,” Govender said. And honestly, neither are we.

Are they charging per lightning bolt? Did a UFO dock on his roof and siphon power?

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Aside from this though, the doctor pointed out the real concern.

What about the pensioners and ordinary residents who might get similarly outrageous bills and feel forced to pay first and fight later?

That’s a super valid point.

Since the ordeal, Terence has gone through the full cycle of emotions - from fury to laughter - over the ordeal and now plans to take the municipality to court.

Honestly, we’re here for it. If a utility bill requires a personal loan and a cardiologist, something’s gone terribly wrong.

What’s the most shocking bill you’ve ever received?