A power outage in Ackerville flats (eBhudzini) has escalated into a life-threatening crisis, leaving vulnerable elderly residents hospitalised and medications spoiled.

According to Thulani Mokoena, one of the affected residents, it has been over two months since the transformer supplying them with electricity exploded, yet they still remain in the dark.

“Since they installed the transformer, they have never done any maintenance on it, and we suspect that is why it keeps on exploding,” Mokoena said.

He said that despite several reports to their ward councillor and the municipality, nothing is still being done.

“The municipality comes and takes pictures, then goes back; they are not helping us,” he said.

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Apart from their lights being off, the resident said the matter has become a life-threatening crisis as there are elderly people whose medications are being spoiled due to being out of the fridge for too long.

“There was also an elder who was even taken to the hospital because her oxygen was not working due to the prolonged power outage,” Mokoena said.

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MMC for Technical Services Thabang Mathebula, who said he wasn’t aware of the issue, said that after receiving the report, he spoke to the electricity manager and asked that they attend to it.

“I’m still going to get an update from the team to find out what the issue is and how they resolved it, if it has been resolved. If not, when are they going to resolve it?” Mathebula said.

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