Zandspruit residents raise Eskom, water issues
Councillor David Mangena promised action and accountability after Zandspruit residents raised ongoing issues with Eskom, water supply, and road maintenance at a local meeting.
Ward 114 councillor David Mangena recently hosted a community meeting in Zandspruit to give residents a chance to raise their concerns with him.
The meeting opened with questions about electricity issues, which continue to affect many in the area.
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Community leader TK Hlongwane helped guide the conversation, with residents voicing their frustrations about illegal electricity connections, damaged infrastructure, broken meters, and the sale of illegal electricity vouchers.
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Mangena told residents that these challenges were not unique to Zandspruit and were affecting communities across the country. He assured them that a representative from Eskom would visit the area soon to respond to their questions in person. He also encouraged residents to pay any fines owed to Eskom, saying that doing so could help fast-track assistance from the power utility.
Another issue discussed was waste collection. Mangena said Zandspruit was originally allocated seven trucks for waste removal, but the number had been reduced to just three due to budget cuts. These cuts were a result of many residents not paying for services.
A major concern raised by the community was the lack of water. Mangena said the shortage was partly due to land invaders in nearby areas who have been illegally tapping into the water supply, leaving paying residents without enough water.
Turning to the state of the roads, Mangena acknowledged the poor conditions thereof but said he had been in touch with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). He was informed that while resources were limited, the JRA was working hard to carry out repairs. He noted that progress was already visible, as JRA teams have been seen working in surrounding areas.
Mangena promised to continue pushing for solutions while calling on the community to work together to improve Zandspruit.
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