Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite in English by Cllr Nkateko Mabunda.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Madibeng Local Municipality is dissatisfied with Eskom refusing to repair infrastructure and restore electricity supply to the Klipgat community who has been living in darkness for the past seven days.
Apparently, some members of the Klipgat community refused an Eskom audit to determine the number of households that have illegal electricity connections.
This unfortunate situation has turned into complete chaos, leaving large parts of the community without electricity.
Klipgat residents have since turned to protest, burning tyres from Klipgat main road in Mabopane block T to Madidi. As a result, children and employees have been unable to travel to school or work. For days, bakery vehicles have also been unable to deliver bread.
On Monday evening, a group of protesters broke into the Ultra Liquors bottle store in Klipgat, next to BP, causing vandalism and theft of property.
Ward Councillors from the affected wards, as well as Members of Mayoral Community (MMC) for Community Safety, scheduled a meeting with top Eskom officials to reach a resolution. However, the officials refused to speak to Madibeng Councillors, citing that the portion of Madibeng affected by the power outages is not serviced by Madibeng Municipality, but by Eskom directly. This is unacceptable and goes against the spirit of cooperative governance.
Eskom’s failure to provide clear reasons for their actions, while also refusing to negotiate with community leaders, is an insult to the community.
The DA will write to Eskom and hand-deliver the letter requesting immediate engagement to resolve the dispute and restore not only electricity supply but also peace to the community.