THE electricity problems in Soweto’s Diepkloof zone 3 have come at a heavy price for Gogo Esther Lebeloane after she was forced out of her house.
Gogo Esther (76) is now going to seek refuge at her sister’s place in Meadowlands, where she’ll be able to connect her oxygen machine.
Her house is one of the many houses that have not had electricity for the past two weeks after Eskom disconnected a number of residents in the area. Luckily for her, she doesn’t have to use the machine every day, only when required which is once or twice a week.
On how she got to use the oxygen machine, Gogo Esther told Daily Sun: “I had Covid-19 and was hospitalised.
“When I was discharged, the doctor organised the oxygen machine for me and it was delivered.”
She said at first, she has been using it daily but as she got better, she uses it only during emergencies. “A few days ago, I was taken to Diepkloof zone 4 for oxygen at my uncle’s place, and then they decided that I should go to Meadowlands.”
Not having power has not only threatened her breathing, it has also derailed how she stores some of her chronic medications.
“It’s tough. Even insulin storage is a problem because it has to be in the fridge. When I get the medication, they put it on ice.”
Gogo Esther’s daughter, Violet Manana (52), said: “My sister goes with these ice packs to her friend’s house in Mofolo. She is also working from there during the day because we don’t have electricity here. When she comes back later, she comes back with the solid ice packs.”
Gogo Esther said she buys electricity every month and Eskom should do an audit and punish only those who aren’t paying.
Resident Tshidi Matlakala (59) said: “I feel that it’s unfair that Eskom switches off even for people who are paying, they must check house to house or even through their system for the people who are not paying and deal with those ones.
Eskom said in a statement that electricity supply to Diepkloof zone 3 was disconnected due to high energy losses as a result of illegal connections, meter bypassing and customers buying electricity from ghost vendors.
