MPILETSO MOTUMI
AN ESKOM computer problem at the weekend has left a lot of prepaid electricity customers in Soweto hungry – without power or lights.
A maintenance problem nearly crippled the system, forcing customers to wait for hours in queues, while yesterday the backlog of customers using the vending machines slowed the service again.
Ntsie Tshabalala, of Chiawelo, had been without electricity since Saturday. Yesterday, he stood for five hours to buy R40 worth of electricity that will last him for about only two or three days.
Prince Vilakazi, of Dobsonville Extension 4, said that he had tried to buy electricity at the local Pick n Pay at the weekend, but was told it was not available. “There’s no television, no cooking… We had to live off take-aways this weekend. We are worried about our fridges and the food inside.”
Ranzo Makhubela, who was at the Chiawelo BP garage to buy electricity, said: “Someone is helped maybe every 30 minutes. I haven’t had electricity since Friday.”
Chiawelo resident Thando Mavuso also said she stood in the queue for hours.
Eskom said they had a maintenance issue at the weekend, and yesterday’s resultant overload of users had again slowed the system.
The power company said the system was to be taken down last night and fixed, and assured customers it should be up and running properly again today.