By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@MYANC.
The African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Naledi in Soweto on Saturday afternoon has been overshadowed by a service delivery protest.
Ramaphosa kicked off the party’s election campaign for the upcoming municipal elections in the area.
He was greeted by furious residents who accused the ANC of only remembering them when it is time to campaign for votes, and police had their hands full when residents tried to disrupt the president’s visit.
Among residents’ concerns was a continued lack of electricity in the community which is often the target of load reduction.
Ramaphosa was accompanied by the ANC’s head of elections Fikile Mbalula and NEC member David Mabuza. Mbalula had to calm tempers, when a group of residents tried to prevent the president from speaking.
He acknowledged the community’s concerns, but urged them to let the president speak, as one resident reminded him that “the only thing that we want is electricity.”
When Ramaphosa was finally allowed to speak, he ensured the community that he had spoken to Eskom and had urged the utility to resolve the electricity crisis as soon as possible.
Ramaphosa however kept his cool and continued to engage with community members.
He mentioned the shortage of substations in the area, as well as the problems caused by illegal connections and cable theft. He recommended the installation of prepaid electricity meters to help resolve some of the issues, and alleviate the pressure on the grid caused by electricity theft.
Ramaphosa said plans were afoot to establish how electricity usage or consumption could be regulated to ensure that every household paid a manageable fee.
The president also addressed the issues of backyard dwellers in most households, adding that while these back rooms bode well for the property market and the economy, some property owners were failing to install prepaid meters for their tenants, and this placed a massive strain on the electricity grid.
After his address to Naledi residents, Ramaphosa plans to head to Thokoza Park for a public meeting.