Staff Reporter.
Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi has assured residents of Soweto that plans are in place for electricity supply to be restored for areas currently in the dark.
Lesufi was speaking with residents of Ward 129 Thulani (Snake Park) in Soweto on Sunday.
He said Eskom was committed to restoring transformers and electricity and would be visiting affected Soweto areas in coming weeks.
The premier convened a community meeting with residents to give feedback on the outcomes of a meeting with the utility regarding concerns raised by residents of Doornkop.
The intervention by Lesufi is part of the Gauteng Transformer Replacement Programme in partnership with Eskom and City Power launched last month in Kagiso to repair transformers in parts of Gauteng.
Lesufi said only 18% of the resident in Soweto is buying electricity legally
“I met with Eskom, and I represented the issues that the community committed themselves to do that we will ensure that we buy from appropriate sellers, we’ll protect the indigent, we’ll remove illegal connections, reconnect illegal connections properly and ensure that those that can afford to pay will pay and those that can’t afford to pay they are registered not to pay.
“Eskom agreed with us that Premier if you are correct that this community said so and has committed to do that, we are prepared to come and assist you”.
“They noted and gave me the statistics, and I must be honest that those statistics are not encouraging. They said to me only 18% of the community is buying electricity correctly, there are people who buy electricity for R150 and we all know that it can’t last them for a month they are getting additional electricity from somewhere and 75% that don’t buy electricity at all but they are connected to the grid, and they are getting electricity.”
Lesufi said Eskom has promised to switch on the 14 transformers that were switched off due to non-payment.
“Eskom must know it’s part of the government. It is not an opposition party, and they must know that our patience is running out; we can’t tolerate the way they are treating our people, but we will deal with it in our offices.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.