Total blackout looms for Mzingazi residents
Eskom warns of increased power outages over illegal connections
Hours-long daily blackouts are expected to continue for certain wards under uMfolozi Municipality as Eskom clamps down on illegal connections.
Affected residents this morning (Thursday) blocked the road from Meerenzee through Mzingazi towards Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), but were quickly dispersed by the police.
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For the past few weeks, residents of wards 2, 5, 14 and 16 have had their electricity switched off between 5pm and 11pm daily, and Eskom warned the area’s leadership of a total blackout because of illegal connections which in turn cause a loss of income for the power utility.
A meeting was held on Wednesday in Empangeni, but no amicable solution was reached.
uMfolozi ward 5 councillor Mthoko Nxumalo did not mince his words, and warned the public to correct their ways or face disconnection.
He said a lack of information among constituents was the major factor contributing to these shenanigans.
‘Eskom should do an audit to single out illegally-connected households. And, yes, there is a gap in educating people about the working systems of Eskom,’ said Nxumalo.
He said what adds more to their frustration is that KwaMbonambi Clinic was not spared from the outages, which worries them.
