Illegal Connections & Non-Payment of Reconnection Fees Prompt Eskom to Cut Electricity in Diepkloof, Soweto
Eskom says electricity supply to Diepkloof Zone 3 in Soweto was disconnected due to high energy losses as a result of illegal connections, meter bypassing and customers buying electricity from illegal vendors.
Residents of Diepkloof Zone 3 in Soweto caused traffic chaos on Monday morning when they barricaded the Soweto Highway near the N1 with large rocks and burning tyres to protest over power cuts in the area.
Eskom says it conducts Network Audits to manage energy losses and improve revenue collection across Gauteng by removing illegal connections, repairing damaged infrastructure and securing the network.
The power utility’s Amanda Qithi says Eskom also issues reconnection fees which Diepkloof residents refused to pay.
Qithi says around 700 customers were disconnected and issued with a reconnection fee of over R6,000 or 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.”
Qithi says Eskom’s Gauteng management and the City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Dr Mpho Phalatse met on Monday to discuss the Diepkloof electricity issues, upcoming projects and the challenges faced by the power utility.
