Residents of some parts of Soshanguve have vowed not to pay for electricity saying this was part of the election promise to them.
This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his state of the nation address last week, urged residents to pay for electricity.
Residents of extension 13, and 14 in Soshanguve, most of whom use illegally connected electricity, said they have nothing to do with what the president said.
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In his speech, Ramaphosa said the government would “take steps to reduce municipal non-payment and confront the culture of non-payment that exists in some communities.”
He said it was imperative that all those who use electricity pay.
However, the residents said during the elections season politicians always come to their area and make promises when they want votes.
“They always promise us free electricity, they cannot turn against us and say we must pay. Pay for what, what happened to the promise?” asked local, Idah Manganyi.
She says electricity is expensive and she can’t afford to pay for it.
“Unemployment rate is high, we are struggling to put food on the table for our families. So paying electricity should be the last problem right now,” she said.
“If the government wants us to pay, they must first come and develop our area, install prepaid electricity meters and then we can decide whether to pay or not,” she said.
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The residents said they are even discouraged to vote because they do not have basic services.
Mandla Vilakazi (51), a self-employed father of three from Extension 12, says he will never pay for electricity because he cannot afford to.
He says that, if the government creates more jobs for those who are unemployed, people may feel more encouraged to pay for electricity.
“How are we expected to pay [for] electricity when only three out of 10 people who live here are working? How do you expect people to pay electricity when we are poor and unemployed?” he asked.
The residents said they are aware that illegal electricity connections are dangerous, but say they have no alternative.
More than 500 shacks in the area have been illegally electrified, with residents directly connecting to Eskom’s high voltage power lines through the area.
ALSO READ: Eskom on drive to curb illegal connections in Tshwane
A network of loose cables, some uncovered, run through the streets of extension 14, each connecting up to five shacks.
They say they decided to connect illegally after their appeals to the municipality for the area to be formalised and electrified fell on deaf ears.
“We need basic services. We need electricity to cook, to watch television, to iron our clothes,” said Beauty Tshiloane.
Councillor for ward 32 Floyd Thema confirmed there was a general problem of izinyokanyoka in the area – illegal connectors.
“There have been [a] few reported casualties as a result. We condemn illegal connections in the strongest terms possible,” said Thema.
ALSO READ: Child (5) electrocuted by illegal power connection
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