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12/05/2015: Joburg in talks with Eskom & residents 
 
The City of Johannesburg has begun talks with Eskom and residents to map-out proposed amicable solutions to load shedding and debt collection in the municipality.
A meeting attended by the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Parks Tau and Eskom’s acting Chairperson, Mr. Zethembe Khoza with his team, was convened yesterday afternoon, May 11, 2015.

It was followed by another one in the evening led by Member of Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr. Matshidiso Mfikoe, with residents of Orlando West in Soweto.

These meetings come after the city’s outcry at the weekend over the blackout of the entire Soweto for more than 10 hours on Friday without prior warning issued to the municipality and residents.
The city condemned the power utility’s actions and described them as insensitive, especially to those residents who pay for the electricity they consume. The prolonged power outage in Soweto came amid the aftermath of a protest by Orlando West residents in the township following another unilateral decision by Eskom to install prepaid electricity meters in the area.

The prolonged blackout led to residents, who looked to the city for answers saying the power utility was being spiteful as a result of their rejection of the new prepaid meters. However, Eskom has since dismissed that the prolonged blackout was a vindictive move against the township’s residents due to their rejection of prepaid meters.

Mr. Khoza said the prolonged outage was a result of a technical problem experienced due to overloading as a result of illegal connections. Possible solutions to mitigate load shedding and address debt collection concerns across the municipality were tabled by both city and Eskom yesterday. These included, among others, improved communication to residents on the benefits of a prepaid meter, separate metering of backroom tenants and the review of the Inclining Growth Tariff.

All these proposed interventions have since been taken in for collective consideration and decisions by the city, Eskom and residents through community meetings, which begun last night in Soweto. Other areas where prepaid meters are to be rolled out by Eskom include Sandton, Orange Farm, Midrand and Diepsloot, which are the city’s areas still supplied by the power utility. A follow up meeting will be held between the city and Eskom in two weeks to map-out a way forward.

The city is committed to continue constructively engaging with Eskom to find a speedy, lasting and amicable resolution to the recent impasse. We believe that collectively we can find a middle ground and serve the people of Johannesburg with pride and dignity.

Issued on behalf of:

Member of Mayoral Committee for Environment and Infrastructure Services
Cllr. Matshidiso Mfikoe

For more information:
Anda Mbikwana
Stakeholder Liaison
Office of the MMC EISD

Tel: 011 5874309 Cell: 072 4082341
Email. andam@joburg.org.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it