JOBURG Mayor Mpho Phalatse said she’s committed to seeing the lights back on in Soweto.
In a short video on Tuesday morning, 9 August, Phalatse said she has sent a “love letter” to Soweto residents.
This comes after she failed to meet with the residents on Saturday, 6 August as promised.
She once again sent her apologies, saying a lot of work has been done to address issues faced by the people.
Phalatse said she’d be attending a meeting on Wednesday, 10 August, hosted by Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and Gauteng Cogta MEC Lebogang Maile to look into how Eskom could support municipalities in Gauteng with the current challenges.
Last month, Soweto residents led by Nhlanhla Lux organised a march to the mayoral office in Braamfontein to deliver a memorandum of their grievances about lack of service delivery.
One of their demands was a stable electricity supply.
Following this, Phalatse was expected to meet residents to give them feedback, but she sent an apology that she was ill and on bed rest, saying a new date would be confirmed.
In the video, Phalatse said: “To the people of Soweto, I did send you a love letter to say I’m really sorry, I’m not feeling well. I want our engagement to be meaningful. I didn’t want to come coughing and making you sick.”
The mayor said a new date would be set and means were already being made the past Sunday to reach the Soweto leadership, however, they were not available for a telecom meeting.
She said: “A lot has happened and I realised you’re not always aware of developments happening until now.”
Phalatse said she’s written to various ministers, including Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, as well as to Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter.
“Much has happened to invest in this course. We stay committed, we want to see you back switched on and Eskom is really also forthcoming. Hopefully, we will find a new date to come to Soweto and meet with you because it is important to me that we address this and see it to the end,” said Phalatse.
