SOSHANGUVE residents in Tshwane are demanding electricity and say they can't keep living without it.
The angry residents said it was difficult to spend Christmas Day in a dark city.
They picketed outside Tshwane House to make sure their grievances were heard.
Ward 90 councillor in Soshanguve, Enos Chiloane, said they've had a huge problem with electricity since 14 December 2023.
He said the municipality cut off the electricity and when the residents bought electricity, they didn't get units - which he said was unlawful.
"The mayor must not do that, and he must tell us before as councillors so that we spread information to the community. We want the municipality to unblock all the customers’ meters and do audits first so that we make arrangements with our people," he said.
He alleged the city's revenue collection department cut off their electricity. Chiloane said this was affecting the poorest of the poor and the pensioners.
"We will continue picketing outside Tshwane House until our demands are met. There will be no municipality vehicle that will come to our location if the electricity matter is not resolved," he said.
Milton "Stix" Ntuli, a deputy chairman of South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in ward 90, said there is a crisis and burning issue in Soshanguve. He said Tshwane introduced prepaid meters to the residents but continue buying electricity and not getting the units. He said they are buying electricity and don't get units as the city wants to generate revenues illegally.
"The city is aware of our challenges since last year. We want our electricity back," he said.
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Ntuli said there are patients who rely on fridges, some are putting medicine and meat inside their fridges.
"We have to throw our meat away because it's rotten. There is crime because of darkness in our kasi," he said.
Resident Cedric Mphahlele said: "We want our electricity. We are struggling. The city is aware of our problem."
He said the city is concerned about people who were connecting illegal electricity but not fixing their problem.
Cedric said that they didn't owe the city money.
The city's acting group head: communication, Selby Bokaba, said the City of Tshwane had enforced credit control in a bid to recoup the billions of rands it was owed by defaulting customers. This action entails taking 100% of the money for the purchase of prepaid electricity and channeling it towards the overall debt. He said the electricity meter was consequently blocked.
"We have also begun disconnecting illegal water and electricity connections. Consumers have to pay for the services they’ve consumed. The city is owed more than R22 billion and owes Eskom R4 billion and Rand Water over R340 million. How will the city function when residents consume services for which they don’t pay?" said Bokaba.
