Mabopane Central City Shopping Centre and businesses surrounding the area had to shut their doors to prevent possible destruction of property and looting, as residents of Block CV blockaded streets with stones as they protested for being without electricity for days.
Zodwa Tarwirei from Mabopane Block CV said that the community is striking today because Eskom switched off their electricity on Tuesday at 14:00 until today they don’t have electricity. The Ward Councillor Thabo Mathibedi was given a list by the power utility which allegedly is for households whose bills are in arrears but the names of the people who appeared on that list don’t reside in Block CV.
She further said that the power utility requested data of people who reside in Block CV which the Ward Councillor submitted to Eskom. The power utility said that they would come and do an audit, they came but they did not communicate with the community about a way forward on which households will have they’re electricity cuff-off due to non-payments or illegal connections.
“What we are saying is that they must switch on our electricity and they must bring our bills house to house so that we can know who owes what amount “because they say each household must pay R6000 fine for illegal connections and non-payments why can’t we make arrangements on how those people can pay that money.
The issue has affected them because they ended up doing a braai yesterday with the meat that was supposed to last them the whole month and they stay with people need electricity for their insulin medication which stays in a fridge and needs to be cold, even if they buy ice on a daily basis to protect the meat they brought they end up spending more money.
Ward councillor Thabo Mathibedi for Ward 29 said he tried to communicate with Eskom to solve the issue of electricity which has been affecting the community for close to 5 years but his efforts did not bear any fruit and Eskom only issued notices for audits when they have already switched off electricity in the community which does not serve any purpose because they have already switched off electricity. They should make an arrangements with community members to solve the problem because community members are willing to pay their bills. When asked for comment on the matter Eskom Gauteng Spokesperson Amanda Qithi said that she’s was in meeting today and she can’t comment the time at this stage
