The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, visited six families on Monday, 15 July, after they were plunged into darkness when Eskom cut off power to large areas of the townships in Soweto and Bram Fischerville.
The purpose behind the visit was to focus on the families’ predicament and request, on their behalf, a quick solution to the crisis brought upon them by Eskom’s inconsiderateness.
According to the statement released by the City, the families have been living without electricity for up to two weeks.
Eskom insists that Soweto residents owe about R18 billion. However, Mayor Mashaba has learnt that these families have paid their accounts fully.
Mashaba subsequently met the Eskom officials in the province, led by the General Manager of the Eskom Operating Unit, D Govender, followed by an interaction with the community members of Bram Fischerville, in which residents raised their issues, including illegal electricity connections, vandalised infrastructure and the extended blackout.
Mashaba said, “Due to the complex nature of the issues discussed between me and the Eskom team during a meeting at Megawatt Park, it was decided that it would be prudent to include the Eskom board in our deliberations.
“I have therefore requested an urgent meeting with the board of Eskom and its shareholders within the next 24 hours. The team at Eskom has committed to ensuring this does take place.”
Mashaba said it is important for Eskom and the City of Johannesburg to work together to find urgent resolutions to issues affecting the community, despite their different spheres of government.
