Soweto residents reject Eskoms latest offer:Monday 8 June 2015. Illegal connections are to be blamed for the power cuts.
(SABC) Eskom says it will write off a R4 billion Soweto electricity bill if residents accept the pre-paid metres that were installed recently. However, Soweto residents are not accepting this latest offer. This as Soweto residents have been using free electricity for most of their lives. Community task team leader Thapelo Thagane says, "We’ll pay but we don't want pre-paid [metres] - that's our standing now.
Over the weekend it was lights out in Dube, Soweto, sparking violence and outrage At 8pm on Sunday night, looters stormed a store, breaking windows and stealing as much as they could. But hostel dwellers say they had no part in the violent protest and looting spree. Illegal connections are to be blamed for the power cuts Residents claim it was outsiders who hijacked their protest. "We are sad because we've been without lights for a long time. It is said that illegal connections are to be blamed for the power cuts. Eskom apologies for Soweto power cut:Friday 15 May 2015.
ANC says Soweto residents must pay their Eskom bills:Thursday 14 May 2015. The ANC is leading a march to the Eskom offices in Diepkloof where a memorandum of demands will be handed over.
(Tshepiso Moche) ANC to lead march to Eskom offices in Soweto:Thursday 14 May 2015. Many of the locals have demanded a flat rate, saying the proposed prepaid system will not work.
(SABC) The ANC in Johannesburg will lead a march of Soweto residents to Eskom offices in Diepkloof on Thursday. The march follows last Friday's power cuts in Soweto which lasted for more than ten hours. The ANC's Jolidee Matongo says Eskom failed to inform residents in advance about this. Meanwhile, some of Soweto's resident feel entitled to free electricity as it was one of the things promised to them when the country gained democracy in 1994, a local told News24. The man, who refused to be named, said the late former president Nelson Mandela's promise of a better South Africa with free education, free electricity, free water and sanitation had not been realised.
"It's sad he died without having had implemented those things," the man told News24 on Wednesday. Many of the locals have demanded a flat rate, saying the proposed prepaid system will not work. "I don't want to lie. Strong police presence ahead of Soweto march:Thursday 14 May 2015. Protests broke out in Soweto following electricty cuts that lasted more than 10 hours last week.
Diepkloof residents protest over installation of prepaid water meters:Tuesday 13 May 2014. The installation of the meters will make the lives of community members difficult.
(SABC) Residents of Diepkloof Extension 4 in Soweto have been protesting against the forced installation of pre-paid water meters. Chairperson of the community organisation Voices of the Poor Concerned Residents, Eunice Manzini, says the installation of the meters will make the lives of community members difficult. Manzini says prepaid is very difficult. Soweto residents owe Eskom R4 billion:Monday 11 May 2015. Electricity restored in Soweto after prolonged outage:Saturday 9 May 2015. Large parts of Soweto have been without power since Friday morning.
(SABC) Electricity has been restored in several Soweto suburbs after a large-scale power outage. Large parts of the township have been without power since Friday morning. Soweto residents urged to lobby electricity regulator:Thursday 7 May 2015. Eskom says installing prepaid meters is the only option.
(SABC) Eskom spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe has called on Soweto residents demanding a flat rate for electricity to lobby the National Energy Regulator of South Africa as they are ones that determine prices. There is a strong police presence in Orlando West following violent protests. Several streets including Vilakazi and Khumalo Streets are still barricaded with rubble and burning tyres. Eskom to continue installation of prepaid metres despite protests:Thursday 7 May 2015. Orlando West protesters say they'll barricade roads again as soon as it’s safe for protestors to do so.
(REUTERS) Eskom says it will continue its efforts to install pre-paid metres in Soweto, despite the resistance from Orlando West residents. The utility has declined the residents' demand to pay a flat rate of up to R400 each month, saying the regulator doesn't allow this. Eskom says no to flat rates for Soweto residents:Wednesday 6 May 2015. Orlando West residents have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met.
(SABC) Eskom says it won't be able to meet the demands of the residents of Orlando West in Soweto. The residents are demanding Eskom to remove prepaid electricity meters. They want to pay a flat rate of no more than R400 per household per month for electricity. Residents have been barricading streets and say they won't allow their children to attend school on Thursday. Eskom's Gauteng Manager, Bandile Jack, says they are bound by the National Energy Regulator, Nersa on their tariffs. Meanwhile, the residents have vowed to continue protesting until their demands for a flat rate are met.
Molefe calls for prepaid metres in every household and business:Wednesday 22 April 2015. Brian Molefe was seconded by Minister Brown to lead Eskom through the current electricity crisis.
(SABC) If new acting Eskom CEO Brian Molefe had his way every household and business in South Africa would be connected to the electricity grid via prepaid meters. Briefing Parliament’s committee on public enterprises on Wednesday, Molefe suggested to MPs he would be canvassing support to bypass municipalities and provide electricity directly to consumers. In the short term, this would help Eskom reduce the debt of over R4 billion currently owed by municipalities. “My advice to the board and I say this without proper consultation…Eskom should bypass these municipalities and provide electricity directly to the residents on a prepaid basis.
He was responding to questions from MPs about Eskom’s threat to cut electricity to the top 20 defaulting municipalities which owe Eskom R3.6 billion. Protea North residents protest against new electricity prepaid meters:Friday 13 March 2015. The residents allege that they were not consulted before the new meter program was rolled out.