Electricity is a right, and not a privilege.
Kagiso is among the areas that fought hard for it to be electrified. Residents installed illegal electricity (which posed a serious threat to lives) to force the government to provide electricity in the area. At the end, the area was electrified.
Over the past few years, Kagiso residents spent some (if not most) of their cold winter days and nights in the dark. This was due to what famously has become known as load shedding. However, Kagiso was not the only area affected by this phenomenon.
The electricity utility suffered from a credibility crisis due to load shedding. Every winter, there were community protests due to electricity blackouts. I’m surprised that our community did not form an Electricity Crisis Committee. I suppose the spirit of activism is no longer as alive as it used to be.
So it was expected that this winter the lights will be off in Kagiso, as usual. Much to our surprise, but to our benefit, Eskom kept the lights on as promised. There were a few electricity blackouts but they were nothing compared to the past.
Early this year, the Mogale City Council, through its Executive Mayor Calvin Seerane, formed a pact with Eskom with regard to a number of issues, including service delivery. I’m unsure what role has this pact played in keeping the lights on in our area. But I have a feeling it has contributed immensely. It will take time for the electricity utility to rebuild and restore its credibility. However, by keeping the lights on in Kagiso this winter, it has taken a first step to reclaiming its credibility. We hope this will be a norm rather than a rarity.
