Soweto: Illegal connections prompt Eskom to cut off power in Diepfloof

Part of Diepkloof in Soweto will have to make do without electricity as Eskom says it cut off power recently, which lead to angry residents to take to the streets on Monday morning, 6 December 2021, blockading roads using rubble and burning tyres. Eskom has now finally shed some more light on the matter: The power utility says it was forced to disconnect power from the area due to several factors, mainly illegal connections, meter bypassing and customers buying electricity from ghost vendors.

The power utility conducted what is known as a network audit, which is standard practice aimed at managing energy losses and improve revenue collection in all its areas of supply across Gauteng.

“During this process, illegal connections are removed, the network is secured, any damages to the infrastructure is repaired and reconnection fees are issued to customers found to be in contravention as is the case with Diepkloof Zone 3,” said Eskom Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi.

NO POWER: HUNDREDS OF DIEPLOOF RESIDENTS MUST PAY UP

Eskom says approximately 700 customers in Diepfloof, Soweto, were disconnected and issued with a reconnection fee of R6052.52 for non-payment of electricity. Supply will then be restored once the reconnection fees have been settled.

In the past eight months, Eskom has lost revenue of approximately R96 million in the area of Diepkloof alone, where customers’ buying trends are dismally low since their conversion from post-paid to prepaid meters; which were installed to assist them to take better control of their electricity consumption.

Eskom Gauteng spokesperson Amanda Qithi

Eskom Gauteng says it met with the City of Johannesburg on Monday, 6 December 2021, with the aim of establishing relations with the metro’s newly-elected Mayor Mpho Phalatse. According to the utility, several matters were under discussion, including the increase of theft and vandalism of Eskom’s infrastructure, challenges experienced by the power utility, and what’s happening in Diepkloof.

“We want to ensure that we service the basic needs of the City of Johannesburg residents; electricity being one of them. However, we need communities to partner with us as we work on strategies to ensure that we provide reliable electricity and root out the theft and vandalism that are on the increase in Johannesburg. We urge the customers that are paying for electricity to work with us to expose those who are not paying, and also call out those who continue to steal electricity from Eskom. Not paying for electricity is theft,”

Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse