Residents demand new transformer for Protea South
“We are not going anywhere until we receive our transformer, no Eskom employee will be allowed to exit the Eskom premises without the transformer."
Residents of Protea South Zone Three held a peaceful march to the Eskom Mapetla Customer Service Hub to demand a new transformer for the affected area which has been without electricity since November 12, 2022.
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According to the community leader who organised the march, Walter Mnisi, residents reported the matter to Eskom but instead of receiving information regarding the restoration of a new transformer they were penalized wrongfully.
On December 14, 2022 residents went to Eskom Megawatt Park to submit a petition stating that 60% of Eskom customers using the transformer in question are paying customers. Immediately after the submission of the petition two Eskom officials were assigned to go and check the transformer, but the feedback from the officials was unclear.
During the march to the Mapetla Customer Service Hub, residents were standing behind the Eskom premises gate to prevent employees from exiting the premises. Security was then called to come and chase them away but they refused to go.
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“We are not going anywhere until we receive our transformer, no Eskom employee will be allowed to exit the premises without the transformer. We have received many cases of shacks being on fire due to candles so we can’t keep risking our lives while knowing very well that we do pay for electricity. And another thing paraffin is really expensive so we are tired of being patient,” said Mnisi.
In the minutes of a meeting held between the residents and one of the supervisors from the power utility, Vusi Maphanga, residents were promised that the issue regarding the transformer is being resolved and they will receive their transformer no later than Thursday, April 20.
“Most of us here have families, so this issue of not having electricity is affecting us badly. It’s now winter and our children are using cold water to bath when preparing to go school.
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“That is not fair because we are paying customers and also this brings more crime to our community especially at night so we can’t tolerate this anymore,” said Meshack Mabasa another resident of Protea South Zone three.
The issue of transformers has been an ongoing debacle for Soweto with many areas still on the waiting list for new ones.
It is also expected to escalate further as the winter season creeps in and electricity consumption is expected to rise.
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