Far Eastbank residents voice frustration over prolonged power outage
Residents of Far Eastbank’s Onica Mashigo Street have been without electricity since June 5 due to a damaged mini substation, despite repeated pleas to councillor Tefo Raphadu.
Residents of Onica Mashigo Street in Far Eastbank, Alexandra, have been without electricity since June 5 after a mini substation in their area got damaged, and their repeated reports to Ward 105 councillor Tefo Raphadu have yet to bring relief.
Elderly resident Linda Mbokazi said the issue has made daily life almost unbearable, forcing her to make everyday trips to her family in Botlhabela Village, about 600m from where she stays.
“We cannot cook. I have to take food to my family’s place, and eat there so that I can drink my medication. I have to go there with these painful feet. We were expecting the councillor to come and help us, but he does not come.”
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Another resident Tebogo Mabena explained that the ongoing power outage has thrown their entire household into disarray. She expressed concern that if electricity is not restored soon, she will have no choice but to relocate her 91-year-old mother, and this would place even more pressure on their already tight finances, due to the added travel costs.
“For a house that is dependent on a pensioner, how are we supposed to survive. Everything we bought in the fridge rotted, and now we have to throw food away. We also had to buy a gas stove. We are living from hand to mouth. We have to buy food everyday so that it doesn’t get spoiled and that is a lot of money.”
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Although some residents accuse Raphadu of being unresponsive, he says he has been actively engaging with City Power. “I have been going to the depot daily to resolve their issues, including in other areas of the ward that are affected by blackouts.” He added that he has been giving residents daily updates on various platforms and engaging with them physically.
He further said he was committed to finding solutions and working collaboratively with the community to address these power outages.
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