Eskom has finally begun to cut off the power of Soweto residents who fail to pay.
The struggling power giant is also hampering residents’ demands to set a power rate per household, no matter how much electricity you use.
Eskom said on Friday tariffs were set by regulator Nersa. “All consumers across the country must, therefore, pay the tariff that applies to them. Eskom cannot negotiate separate tariffs and preferential arrangements beyond what is regulated are out of the question. “
Eskom says such a tariff can lead to a “waste of electricity”, in cases where consumers start using more power because they don’t pay for the extra power.
Soweto residents owe Eskom a total of R16 billion. Many residents say they simply cannot pay.
Johannesburg ANC spokesperson Jodilee Matongo says the ANC policy is for people to pay for the power they use and the solution to install prepaid meters – something some Soweto residents have objected to in the past.
Some of the residents said that they cannot pay the full price as they are not working. Nonetheless, Soweto is a cloud that hangs over Eskom, a cloud of R 16 billion debt.
Newslite SA reported on the 14th of October that Soweto was still receiving free electricity.
The electricity cut were effective immediatly.
