Eskom unilaterally cuts power to large parts of Ekurhuleni outside of loadshedding schedule

by Ald. Tania Campbell — DA Leader in Ekurhuleni

Date: 01 June 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

Image Source: Daily Maverick

In defiance of their own Level 2 load shedding schedule, the national power utility, Eskom, has cut power to a number of towns and suburbs in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), causing a great deal of strife to residents and businesses alike.

Since Eskom implemented Level 2 load shedding on Monday the 31st of May, towns such as Edenvale, Germiston, Kempton Park, Bedfordview, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan and Alberton experienced prolonged power outages that bared no resemblance to the existing level 2 load shedding schedule. The reasons for this are unknown as they had not consulted with the City’s Energy Department, leaving councillors and officials clueless on how to respond to numerous questions and complaints from frustrated residents.

While South African’s are already being put through the inconvenience of load shedding, residents of Ekurhuleni now have to contend with an unreliable and unpredictable power supply that follows no schedule during a particularly cold snap of weather that sweeps much of the Province.

The City’s ageing power infrastructure is already severely compromised by cable theft, as well as a lack of maintenance under the ANC and their coalition* partners. The seemingly arbitrary switching on and off power places additional strain on the infrastructure as surges have the potential to cause further damage to cables and substations thereby prolonging power outages.

Eskom has shown that they have little respect for the residents of Ekurhuleni by not providing them with an explanation for the prolonged power cuts, which affords them little time or opportunity to prepare.

The DA in Ekurhuleni calls on the City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, to demand an urgent explanation of Eskom’s antics and bring a stop to the utility unilaterally shutting off the power without following their own prescribed schedule.

*Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)

Ald. Tania Campbell

DA Leader in Ekurhuleni