Power failure causes mayhem
“He gets into the houses and threatens people who are owing Eskom and demanded payment."
Power failure in Braamfischerville Phase Two for the past three weeks finally reached a boiling point when residents blocked Elias Motswaledi Road last Saturday.
According to South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) Zone 7, Deputy Chairperson Setlamorago Thobejane said, Eskom ex-employee known only as Madala camouflage as Eskom employee driving the power supply company bakkie comes to Braamfischerville to do an illegal inspection for people who are not paying their monthly subscription fee.
“He gets into the houses and threatens people who are owing Eskom and demanded payment.
“Failure to comply, he takes the electricity meter boxes and leaves residents behind without power.
“Three weeks ago, again the bogus Eskom employee came and took electricity links of the transformer claiming that the transformer is overloaded. As a result, 58 families are without electricity in Braamfischerville Phase Two,” explained Thobejane.
He said there was another unknown person who later replaced the electricity links and the power was restored to the affected 58 families.
However, residents joy was short-lived as Eskom employees and security personnel came back and removed all newly installed electricity links citing that they were stolen.
He said the 58 families again were without electricity and residents responded by blocking Elias Motswaledi Road bringing discomfort to motorists using the road last Saturday in the morning.
“We have already chosen a delegate that will go with me to Eskom Randfontein office to sort out this mess.
“Eskom can do its audit as they initially requested and install the electricity links so that we can have power again. That can be done within a day so we can stop living without electricity,” said Thobejane.
EFF PR Councillor Pinkie Nkhwenkwana said they are ready to hold Eskom accountable.
“We want their ex-employee who has been stealing electricity meter boxes to be identified and be arrested.
“Reasons given to residents to switch off the electricity are unsatisfactory; hence we are optimistic that we will get a positive outcome from our Monday meeting with Eskom in Randfontein.”
Resident Tshipane Mankgaba said they have been without electricity for the past three weeks.
He said they depend on fast food for survival and they bath with cold water daily before heading to work.
Mankgaba said if they don’t get any joy from their Eskom meeting, they will shut down Elias Motswaledi Road again.
Finally, the electricity was only reinstated back to the affected 58 families houses in Braamfischerville Phase Two last Monday.
The anticipated road blockade of Elias Motswaledi Road was finally called off.
Eskom spokesperson Innocentia Zabala said residents must provide a reference number so that she can be able to escalate and investigate the issue.
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