Residents in Soweto are still without electricity after 6 months, according to Ward 21 ANC Councillor Mpho Sesedinyane the residents intended to meet at Eskom offices in Zola this morning to protest against the ‘’attitude ” on how Eskom responds to their concerns.
This comes after the outcome at the South Gauteng High Court case the which saw Judge Marcus Senyatsi dismiss urgency of the urgent application brought by residents of Soweto to get their electricity back and play a flat rate of R150 monthly.
Despite the outcome of the case Sesedinyane explained that the South African National Civic Organisation stands vey farm with the R150 flat rate and that they will continue to raise the issue with Eskom and the ruling party as they are convinced that the flat rate can draw residents to pay for electricity.
[also read] – Eskom plans supply interuption in Chiawelo and Mapetla
“We cannot supress the people because of the financial challenges they are facing, our approach on the R150 flat rate plan is for those who leave below or between poverty line and to inculate the culture of paying especially from Soweto residents.
Sesedinyane said the residents refusing to pay for electricity dates back to the apartheid era, he emphasised that bring people in tems of the culture of paying for electricity they have to start somewhere.
“Our biggest problem is the attitude equally, so the people who can afford but chose not to pay because of the struggle that waged during the fight against the apartheid system,”
He concluded by stating that the only way forward is for Eskom to engage with communities because currently they cut off electricity without any form of communication with the public or councillors.
Soweto owes Eskom an amount ranging to R18 billon for electricity, in response the power utility ignored the communities request to restore electricity since March this year.
Eskom spokesperson was not available for comment at the time to publish.
This government really acts like Soweto is the only township in SA. They have invested so much in that township’s economy and making it the go to township for tourists. Now they giving them electricity for R150????????????????
— La Chap ye Wine ???? (@iKingVele_Le) November 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/uthingo_/status/1194536032877916161?s=20
https://twitter.com/jvnaidoo/status/1194458996939333637?s=20
