Rhodesfield community protests over power reconnection fees

Rhodesfield residents are up in arms over the CoE’s continued demand for payment to replace stolen electricity cables despite a mayoral announcement scrapping the charges.

On March 27, Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza publicly announced that the R1 500 (excluding VAT) to replace stolen service connection cables would be immediately scrapped.

However, the residents say municipal Energy Department staff continue to demand payment of R1 725 before restoring power.

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In protest, the angry residents visited the Kempton Park Energy Department and the council’s customer care centre on May 20 to demand answers and immediate action.

Community members also organised a public meeting to voice their frustrations and hold officials accountable.

Resident Tim Marshall lives on Mustang Street and said his power had been off since May 16 after thieves stole the service cable to his home.

“Now, because thieves stole the cable, they said to me I must pay, and if I don’t, they won’t put my power back on,” he said.

“I asked the municipality what would happen if the same people came and stole it again next week. They couldn’t answer me. So if the perpetrators strike again, I must pay another R1 725? That’s just not right.”

Marshall said the issue wasn’t just about being without electricity for three days. It was about the principle.

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“We’re being made to pay for damage to infrastructure that isn’t our fault. That’s blackmail,” he added.

Another resident, Buhle Mhlazana, a mother of an infant living on Mustang Street, said she’d also been without electricity and could not afford the amount the municipality demanded.

“We have children who need to eat. It’s been three days with no electricity, and they’re telling us to pay an amount we simply don’t have,” she said.

Several other streets in Rhodesfield are affected, with many households facing the same demand for payment before reconnection.
Resident Christopher Tahula believes the problem lies in implementing the mayor’s directive.

“The mayor gave the order, but it seems the municipality hasn’t updated its policies or communicated the change effectively. The community can work together to ensure enforcement of this directive, even if it means a boycott,” he said.

Residents have turned to local officials and Ward Clr Simon Lapping for support.

They said they would continue to fight to see the mayor’s directive implemented and called on more community members to attend meetings and show solidarity.

The more voices raised, they believed, the greater the pressure on the municipality to act.
The Kempton Express sent an enquiry to the CoE for comment on May 20 but had received no comment at the time of going to print.