Soweto residents to continue engaging Eskom on the R150 monthly flat rate
South African National Civic Organisation convinced that the flat rate for poor households can inculcate the culture of paying for electricity.
Residents in Soweto are still without electricity after 6 months.
According to Ward 21 ANC Councillor Mpho Sesedinyane, the residents intended to meet at Eskom offices in Zola to protest against the ‘’attitude ” on how Eskom responds to their concerns, Soweto Urban reports.
This comes after the outcome at the South Gauteng High Court case which saw Judge Marcus Senyatsi dismiss the urgency of the urgent application brought by residents of Soweto to get their electricity back and pay a flat rate of R150 monthly.
Despite the outcome of the case, Sesedinyane explained that the South African National Civic Organisation stands very firm with the R150 flat rate and that they will continue to raise the issue with Eskom and the ruling party as they are convinced that the flat rate can draw residents to pay for electricity.
“We cannot suppress the people because of the financial challenges they are facing, our approach on the R150 flat rate plan is for those who leave below or between the poverty line and to inculcate the culture of paying especially from Soweto residents.
Sesedinyane said the residents refusing to pay for electricity dates back to the apartheid era, he emphasised that bringing people in terms of the culture of paying for electricity they have to start somewhere.
“Our biggest problem is the attitude equally, so the people who can afford but choose not to pay because of the struggle that waged during the fight against the apartheid system,”
He concluded by stating that the only way forward is for Eskom to engage with residents because currently, they cut off electricity without any form of communication with the public or councillors.
Soweto owes Eskom an amount ranging to R18 billion for electricity, and the power utility has since ignored residents’ request to restore electricity since March this year.
This government really acts like Soweto is the only township in SA. They have invested so much in that township’s economy and making it the go to township for tourists. Now they giving them electricity for R150🤣🤣🤣🤣
— La Chap ye wine 🍷 (@LaChapYeWine) November 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/uthingo_/status/1194536032877916161
https://twitter.com/jvnaidoo/status/1194458996939333637
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