Residents demand power in Elandsfontein
This prompted Elandsfontein residents to criticise the City of Ekurhuleni for the lack of action.
Residents of Kangaroo Street, Elandsfontein, have been without power since June 12.
This prompted Elandsfontein residents to criticise the City of Ekurhuleni for the lack of action.
A resident Benjamin Myburgh, who uses an oxygen machine, was diagnosed with heart failure. He describes his living conditions as ‘terrible’, adding that electricity is a basic need.
“I have a gas cylinder that lasts for nine hours and I have to use it throughout the night. To make it last for longer, I only use it when I feel I need it,” said Myburgh.
“It costs me R180 to fill the medium cylinder. I am lucky the guy who works with these things has become a close friend of mine and he can deliver for me at request,” he said.
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“At work, I am at the risk fold. When I went to the hospital, they picked me because I have a heart and lung problem. Last year in July, I was admitted to Life Roseacres Hospital ICU,” said Myburgh.
He said lodged 54 calls to the Germiston call centre between June 25 and July 16.
“They gave me reference numbers which, over time, some were closed without being resolved,” said Myburgh.
“Two technicians came, took pictures and left. A week after they replaced the circuit breaker, it quickly tripped again,” said Myburgh.
He said to cook he had to use a gas stove he acquired from his brother-in-law.
“The fridges are empty because we had to throw away three black plastics of food and vegetables.
“That food was supposed to last us a month and now we have to buy food every day,” said Myburgh.
Conny Sigidi said on June 17 they went to the Germiston depot and two technicians came hours later to inspect the Steenbok substation at the corner of Steenbook and Kangaroo streets.
“Originally five houses had no power, on July 20 more houses were affected when a cable burned.
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“On June 22 we went to the city manager’s offices and she promised that the matter would be attended to but nothing was done,” said Sigidi.
GCN sent a request for comment to the city of Ekurhuleni on July 20, requesting for comment by July 21 at 13h00.
By the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
