Ebony Park locals share electricity woes

The community of Ebony Park has been left powerless with no hope of receiving electricity any time soon.

Local residents say Eskom told them they would attend to their electricity crises at the end of October.

Ntombizethu Ntsele, who lives in Ext 4, Ebony Park, told the Midrand Reporter on 24 September that they have had an issue with electricity for many years now.

She added, “The day the transformer exploded on 9 July it all happened as a shock because it happened unexpectedly. Since then we have tried reporting the case at Eskom and all they could tell us is that we should wait until 28 October.”

Ntsele said that she is worried that they now have to spend more money to survive, “It has really affected us, we cannot live without electricity. Our community houses adults, students, newborn babies workers and matriculants. We are really affected in a negative way and we cannot do anything about it.”

Londiwe Magagula from Ext 4, also expressed the struggles she has been facing, adding that they cannot even charge their phones, “We have to buy gas every two weeks, we buy food every day, milk every day, the list is long. We use candles, if not we have to buy petrol for the generator which is [very] expensive,” she added.

Eskom’s Gauteng spokesperson, Reneiloe Semenya explained that as part of Eskom’s daily operations they conduct audits which involve removing illegal connections, checking meter bypasses, tampering, disconnect and any contraventions.

“A fine of approximately R 6 450 is normally levied on contraventions. Upon payment of the fine, a customer is reconnected. Where a customer has difficulty paying the reconnection fee upfront, Eskom enters the customer into a deferred payment agreement in which the fee is paid over six months.

“Eskom will only replace damaged infrastructure once these audits have been conducted, and the fines paid or agreements signed with customers.”

Semenya added that Eskom has intensified this audit process on a regular basis to replace infrastructure damaged by overloading, which is mainly caused by illegal connections.

“This refers mainly to mini-substations and pole-mounted transformers in the high density areas of Gauteng. These are not sustainable and costs Eskom a lot of money, as they are not in line with prudent management practice, and Eskom’s efforts to improve its financial and operational objectives.”

Semenya couldn’t confirm when the transformer would be replaced. “It also leaves customers without power for days while the damage is being repaired. Eskom has a duty to protect its infrastructure, and the community in which it operates.”

Semenya added that all areas supplied by Gauteng Eskom such as Winterveld, Sebokeng, Soweto, Orange Farm are also affected.

Details: For more information, please contact the Eskom Megawatt Offices on 011 800 8111.