Crown Garden pensioner in the dark after City Power took her meter
It has been six months since pensioner Margaret Radebe's electricity was switched off.
Pensioner Margaret Radebe (75) from Wryneck Avenue in Crown Garden cries foul as she has been without power since August last year.
She said the problem started in 2019. Before she used convectional electricity until City Power advised her to use pre-paid electricity because it is ‘cheap’.
“City Power personnel came here, took my meter and told me to report it when he doesn’t come back. On that night, he came back and took the circuit breaker outside in the pole. He told me we share one line of power with my neighbour. Although he took the meter and circuit breaker, he said he will make sure I have power in the house,” she said.
After some time, Radebe went to City Power and explained her ordeal and reported the man who came to her house. She said when they checked on the system, nothing was found in terms of a meter change in her house.
“I was told City Power will dispatch people to come to my house and check. I wanted to go with them but they refused. I was in their offices until 16:00. Some senior officials asked the officials who were helping me to give me their numbers because I wanted someone with who I will liaise with. They gave me wrong numbers,” explained Radebe.
She said she never went back to them as she felt she was humiliated and looked down upon by people who were supposed to help her.
“On August 25 last year at 07:30 our electricity went off. The whole day no electricity. I phoned an electrician to have a look because the neighbours had electricity. He found no fault. I was confused as to what was happening.
“The following the day a City Power employee came; however, they went to my neighbour. They were there for about an hour. They then came out, went to the pole outside and took the two circuit breakers. They only replaced them with wires. The employee asked the neighbour if they had electricity. They said yes and he left without assisting me,” she said.
After two days, she went to Braamfontein and reported this, as there was no notice to inform her of the possible cutting of electricity.
“The manager there said I have R17 000 debt and needed to pay R1 760 per month in order for the electricity to be restored. I didn’t have the money. However, after two days, I managed to get the money and I paid.
“He said he will ask City Power to restore my electricity and it will take at most 72 hours.
“After five days without electricity, I went back to him and he changed the tune and asked me to go to City Power for help. The next day, I went to City Power. I was told to go to Block B where they will check for me. There I was told I needed to pay R4 467.
“They told me they will give me forms as a pensioner and I must ask my local councillor, Stuart Marais, to fill them out. But the councillor was in Cape Town and said he will attend to them when he returns.
“On the phone, Stuart also said he doesn’t understand why she has to ask him for help as he doesn’t work for City Power. All I have to do is just pay the money. He never came to fill out the forms until one Saturday evening.
“He came and saw the forms and because it was dark, he said he will come on Sunday during the day. Until today, I’ve never seen him.
“I then went back to City Power and was told I need to pay because there’s nothing they can do. They were so rude. I’m a pensioner who has been a law-abiding citizen and I’m registered for the expanded social package which I renew every six months. Who can help me, as I’m in the dark, literally?” she asked.
A request for comment was sent to both City Power and Marais. At the time of going to print, no response had been received.
