As Cosmo City Extension 8, Northwest of Johannesburg, goes into a third day without power and no explanation from Eskom, residents complain that authorities have ignored their electricity problems for more than two years.
On Tuesday night, residents blocked roads with burning tyres and stones.
Activists say they have been complaining for a long time, but authorities have ignored them.
“We’ve been suffering with no electricity for more than two years. When we log calls they cancel our calls, when we speak to Eskom management they’re not doing anything about our matter, we are tired. We want even the Premier to come and help us, why is it only us?”, said community activist Lucia Sambo who warned residents could intensify protest action if authorities don’t resolve the problem urgently.
Outages have occurred for prolonged periods of time, with the most recent occurring in November.
Sambo said the area’s mortgaged houses have become unbearable without electricity.
“We are paying bonds but we’re suffering without electricity. The meat in our refrigerator has rotted, our fridge has melted, and the children have taken exams in the dark. We’re so sick and tired, we’re paying bonds but we don’t see the value of these bonds,” she said.
Eskom technicians are yet to show up in the area with residents claiming that they were recently made to carry the cost of replacing a transformer which was damaged.
The power utility could not be reached for comment