Elandsfontein residents at Hartebees and Kangaroo streets had enough as they have been without power since June 16 due to illegal connections.

ALSO READ: Local taverns urged to comply with Ekurhuleni by-laws

Residents shared their frustrations with the GCN on August 18

.After two months of living without power, Lufuno Tshirangwana said the community is desperate.

“Poles six and eight are affected because there are illegal connections to these poles.

“The municipal technicians always show up to fix power issues on other streets except those affecting us,” said Tshirangwana.

“We have presented our problems to the chief whip of council Khetha Shandu on July 19.

“We had a meeting at the Germiston Civic Centre with other members of the council and our ward councillor Kade Guerrero was present,” she said.

“A week after the meeting there were technicians investigating what was wrong with the cables and left.

“When we asked them why they did not restore our power they said they are not the ones deployed to restore power but a second team will be sent to fix the issue,” said Tshirangwana.

“My geyser is affected in the process of these power issues.

“I can’t get another one because they cost a fortune.

“I will have to spend more than R1 500 to get my geyser fixed.

“I now have to boil water in the bath by using a gas stove,” said Tshirangwana.

“We want the municipality to restore our power. It has been months and counting.

“They have to remove the illegal connections connected to our power lines. If they can’t restore our power they can connect us to other powerlines,” she said.

“All we do is to report and get a reference number, but no one helps us,” she said.

Florence Mulaudzi said it has been a challenge before going to work every morning because she has to boil water to fill up the bathtub.

ALSO READ: Rand Water maintenance to affect many parts of Ekurhuleni

“I can’t iron my uniform to go to work.

“We have to iron school clothes for the children. How can we afford to go into public without ironing our clothes?

“We have to cook using gas stoves. Gas is costly.

“This is not how voters of this country should be living. The illegal connections are a danger to residents and children,” said Mulaudzi.

Thandie Mthembu said she is one of the affected tenants in the area and the power is starting to cause financial strain.

“We can’t continue paying full rent while we don’t receive full services. We have children and most of their food needs to be served warm,” said Mthembu.

“How are we expected to bath our children without power? We can’t even have a budget for food because we can’t buy monthly groceries. We have to buy meat that is enough for a day otherwise it will go off,” she said.

The GCN requested comment from the City of Ekurhuleni by August 19 at 12h00.

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.