Senior citizens march for better services

Senior citizens from across Soweto marched to the Diepkloof Eskom offices on Monday morning. Organised under the theme, “Caring for pensioners,” the march which was attended by over 200 people was about demanding a billing system specific to pensioners from the power utility.

It was organised and led by the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) Soweto East. DA Member of Parliament Tsepo Mhlongo said “We have been joined by senior citizens who seem to have been neglected or forgotten by Eskom. Senior citizens want Eskom to give them 100% rebates. They have applied for 100% rebate and yet are still being billed exorbitantly.”
Top of the demands list in the memorandum was the cancelation of debts after three years for pensioners and an accurate billing system. Pensioners said they are prepared to pay for a services but demand accurate statements every month instead of being billed through estimation.
Apart from Eskom, another memorandum of grievances was delivered to the South African Social Security Agency (SASA). In that memorandum, pensioners were demanding the stoppage of illegal deductions from their pay.

“We demand the protection of senior citizens income, ensuring that they receive all their income and only there after they themselves can arrange for payments they need to make,” reads the memorandum.

SASA and Eskom accepted their memorandums and both promised to respond by May 3.  “We are happy that the demands and needs of senior citizens were heard and that a resolution is in progress,” said march organiser Ntombi Khumalo.
@mzwajourno