Residents of a section of Batswaneng in Khutsong have been struggling without electricity for months due to electricity theft.

According to one of the affected residents, Teboho Itulmeleng, they have not had electricity for the past four months.

The problems apparently started when illegal connections from the nearby hostels damaged the area’s electrical infrastructure.

“Our electricity went off around the end of February,” confirmed another resident, Edward Mathule.

“We talked to Eskom, and they said that they will not restore the electricity if the people from the hostels are still there, as they will steal it again,” Itulmeleng says.

The residents say that the Merafong City Local Municipality, which owns the hostels, apparently promised to evacuate the people occupying them, as they are dilapidated and unsafe. The hostels will then be demolished.

“The people inside just refused to move,” says another resident, Abie Malefo.

“This problem is causing animosity in our area,” says another affected resident, the pensioner Miriam Mashabesha.

According to Mashabesha, the electricity shortage is also a health risk to her and others, as they have medication that must be kept at a certain temperature. This is impossible without a refrigerator.

Other residents, such as Kgontse Meinkies, worry that they will not be safe as long as the hostels are still standing, as they are known as a hiding place for gangsters and other young criminals.

Although the Herald took the issues to the municipality, no feedback was received.