With temperatures plummeting since the beginning of June, residents took to streets in Dube, Zondi, Orlando, White City, Mapetla and Pimville blocking roads with rocks, tyres and rubbles, in protest over a series of power outages that have left some without power for days.
Residents complained over a poor billing system and old unserviced infrastructure.
The community also disputed the figure of R18 billion that Soweto reportedly owed Eskom.
Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, King Sibiya said Soweto was being ‘targeted by Eskom because of the enormous debt the area had incurred over the years’.
Sibiya said the crisis committee had approached the Public Protector’s office over the issue of Soweto electricity problems. He said the community was willing to pay R150 flat rate.
“They don’t want to engage with us but we are willing to pay around R100 per house so we can close our debt maybe they can start taking us seriously,” Sibiya said.
He said the statements that Soweto residents wanted free electricity were false. At the same time Sibiya said most of the people in Soweto could not afford electricity.
Residents say they will allow technicians to work and repair electricity at affected areas.
Meanwhile, Eskom says there will be no outages over weekend, according to spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.
Image (A youngster extending innocent hands next to a burning tyre in Soweto as temperatures plummet. This is part of residents protesting over electricity outages and water disruptions).
