Emdeni community wants answers from Eskom
The community members from Ward 52 in Emdeni, Soweto, some who have been without electricity for the past nine months have decided to take their frustrations to the Eskom offices in Zola North.
Residents say they have been living in the dark for the past few months and Eskom is not saying anything about their situation.
According to the residents an audit was conducted and fines were issued, and they have already paid but power utility has not responded in kind.
Residents blocked the Eskom Zola North entrance with stones and burning tyres on Wednesday, August 30.
The area’s ward councilor Thapelo Radebe has confirmed that all the due processes were followed, and Eskom installed new mini subs, but they have not been switch on and no reason has been given.
“The residents have paid the fines that were requested from them, and they complied, by April and May most of the households had already paid the fines. The mini-subs were installed two months ago and to date they have not been switched on, residents want answers from Eskom,” said Cllr Radebe.
Back in February, Emdeni residents received the Eskom newsletter confirming the area will be switched off due to high energy losses in the feeder supply that gives the community its power.
According to the state-owned enterprise, the network audit is conducted to prevent and safeguard electricity infrastructure from failure or an explosion.
“All feeders with losses above 60% are at risk as these losses are an indication of non-payment and illegal activities through meter bypasses and tempering which lead to network overloading. The feeder in Emdeni has been identified as one of those in which Eskom is losing more than 60% of its revenue,” the newsletter reads.
An updated response from Eskom or Joburg’s City Power is yet to be received.
