LIMPOPO – Frustration reached a boiling point in Phalaborwa on Tuesday, May 6, as members of the EFF in Phalaborwa and concerned residents took to the streets to protest against the ongoing load reduction which takes place from 05:00 to 07:00 in the morning and from 19:00 to 21:00 every day.

They also threatened to take legal action against Eskom should they not respond to their demands within seven days.

Marching from the Phalaborwa Post Office to Eskom’s Phalaborwa offices, the group submitted a strongly worded memorandum to Eskom representatives demanding urgent solutions to the power issues affecting their daily lives.

Load reduction is a strategy used by Eskom to manage demand on the electricity grid, particularly when specific distribution networks face overloading.

Unlike load shedding, which responds to national power shortages, load reduction is implemented locally, often during peak hours.

The protest was led by EFF provincial secretary commissar Kgothatso Mogoane, and EFF sub-regional coordinator Pontsho Mashumu.

The document, signed by Mogoane, called for the immediate end of load reduction and demanded a stable, uninterrupted electricity supply to the people of Phalaborwa.

The memorandum further urged Eskom to take accountability for damaged appliances caused by power disruptions and to ensure transparency by providing regular updates on maintenance schedules and service issues.

Some of the demands also called for investment in a fully resourced electricity generation plant for the region, proper servicing of power stations, and the hiring of more skilled artisans and engineers to improve service delivery.

They also demand that Eskom hire more security guards to combat cable theft, which is an increasing concern in Phalaborwa.

Moreover, it was also noted that Eskom is given seven days to respond to their demands, warning that failure to act could lead to further steps, including legal action.

An Eskom representative signed and acknowledged the memorandum.

Eskom provincial spokesperson Matshidiso Phaladi told the Herald on Monday that customer behaviour is one of the major contributors to energy losses.

“If customers supplied by overloaded feeders stop illegal activities, such as buying electricity from illegal vendors and tampering with meters, there will be an improvement,” she said.
Phaladi added that, in addition to behavioural changes, audits on the particular feeders are necessary to fully address the issues.