Eskom to meet Majakaneng community while N4 protests continue
Eskom has pledged to work closely with the Majakaneng community in the North West to resolve persistent electricity supply challenges, on the second morning of protests on the N4 highway.
The protest as been sparked by frequent electricity outages and broader service delivery concerns, including water shortages — the latter falling under the jurisdiction of the local municipality.
In a statement released on Thursday, Eskom acknowledged the frustrations expressed by residents and confirmed that its North West operations team had met with community members to discuss the electricity problems.
“The primary cause of the outages is the overloading of the local electricity network, this has necessitated the implementation of load reduction measures to prevent system failure. These measures are essential to protect the infrastructure.”
Eskom emphasised its commitment to peaceful engagement, stating that it will continue to work alongside community leaders to address the root causes of the electricity disruptions.
Plans include expanding network capacity, addressing illegal connections, and fast-tracking the rollout of smart meters in the area.
The power utility also revealed that while there are over 3 500 registered customers in Majakaneng, only 697 are actively purchasing electricity.
Illegal connections remain a serious challenge, contributing to the overload and exacerbating outages.
"To safeguard the system from a complete shutdown, Eskom is forced to implement load reduction. We urge all residents to use electricity legally and responsibly, and to support efforts aimed at restoring and maintaining a reliable supply."
While the issue of electricity purchasing was not discussed in full during the latest engagement, Eskom reiterated the importance of payment for services.
"For services to be sustained and improved, they must be paid for."
Eskom has assured residents that it remains committed to transparency, safety and service delivery, and will continue to provide updates as progress is made in addressing the challenges facing Majakaneng.
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