Johannesburg – Residents said they felt directly targeted by the power utility as most parts of Soweto have been without electricity for months, and
the power cuts in their areas were not part of the load-shedding schedule.
A mass rally was held in Soweto last Sunday after which a movement called the Gauteng Electricity Movement (GEM) was established.
At the helm of the new formation are apparent community leaders including Trevor Ngwane, Seth Mazibuko, Mandla Phangwa, Mangaliso Sambo, Chisalle Benjamin and Lehlohonolo Makhele.
The GEM is demanding a standard flat rate for all Gauteng townships and the scrapping of prepaid meters, an end to load-shedding, reconnection of all houses without electricity, the scrapping of all apartheid debts and the electrification of all informal settlements.
Ngwane said the electricity problem does not only affect Soweto, but the entire country and their mandate was to unite everyone under a single voice.
“All poor townships, working-class communities, shack settlements, etc, are facing a similar problem of electricity and we demand
for Eskom and the government to heed our requests and come to a consensus with the people,” said Ngwane.
“We also reject the attempts of making the poor pay exorbitant amounts. The power utility should recover the money that was corruptly misappropriated and repay the apartheid debt that Eskom incurred,” said Ngwane.
Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said Eskom was ready and available to restore power supply to areas where communities allow it access to conduct audits, remove illegal connections, disconnect bypassed meters and issue fines for contraventions.
He said Eskom would restore supply only once this process had been completed and fines settled.
“Eskom is not in a position to continuously replace failed
mini substations and pole-mounted transformers in areas where the residents are not paying for their electricity.
“Non-payment of electricity does not only impact on the security of supply for paying customers, but also contributes to increased energy and revenue losses coupled with increased operational costs,” said Mantshantsha, adding that the government provided free basic electricityto indigent customers.
“In the case of Soweto, the
City of Joburg administers this process. Customers are encouraged to partake so they can benefit as this will alleviate pressure,” said Mantshantsha
Rockville is among the worst affected areas of Soweto, with some blocks having been completely cut off for the past eight months.
Speaking on condition of anonymity a resident from Vundla Drive said even though the locals were willing to engage with Eskom, it seems like the power utility was not open to finding solutions for the residents.
“We were disconnected in a very sneaky way because no one warned us. When the lights switched off, many of us assumed it was load-shedding, but after two days to a week without electricity, we realised the problem was bigger,” she added.
Members of the community were then told that a R6 000 reconnection payment was required for power to be restored to their residences.
While some households were able to make payment, some couldn’t afford the amount required, so they remain in the dark.
“But if you go from house to house, like we did, you will realise that affordability differs and that so many families are struggling just to feed themselves. How then do you ask for such a hefty fine? It is ridiculous,” she said.
The resident also claimed that the lack of electricity in her neighbourhood had resulted in her neighbour’s death last month after experiencing respiratory complications because she couldn’t use her electricity operated nebuliser.
Pensioner Agnes Sithole complained that she experienced the “worst Christmas ever” last year due to the power cuts.
“As we speak, I don’t have an income to pay this hefty fine as I am dependent on grant money. My food has spoiled so many times more than I care to count. But right now, my biggest fear is the coming winter season. I have no idea how we are going to cope.”
Other areas affected by the lengthy power cuts include sections of Koma Road, Kunene, Mkhize and Lali streets in Rockville.
The Maseko family on Mkhize Street, behind the Regina Mundi church, live in one of six houses that have been without electricity for three weeks.
The pensioners said prior to the recent cut-off, they had been in the dark for six months despite paying the R6 000 required to install prepaid meter boxes.
Some residents then reconnected illegally.
The couple, who are both pensioners, had to resort to uncomfortable alternatives such as keeping insulin for diabetes in a refrigerator three houses away from theirs.
“We are told that the latest problem is that the power line that feeds electricity directly to our house broke.
“We reported the matter several times, but it seems like Eskom doesn’t care because nothing has happened and all we can do is wait and hope for the best,” said Baba Maseko, adding that they had always paid for their electricity consumption.