Mashaba threatens to drag Eskom to Nersa over power cuts
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has threatened to drag
Eskom to the National Energy Regulation of South Africa (Nersa) following the
entity’s decision to continue with power cuts in various parts of Soweto due to
non-payment.
Mashaba claims that Eskom failed to honour a request by the city for a meeting and that outgoing CEO Phakamani Hadebe questioned the urgency of the matter.
“Presently, Eskom has resolved not to maintain or repair their infrastructure in areas where there are high levels of non-payment of Eskom accounts. The effect is to institute a blanket punishment against even paying residents,” Mashaba said on Wednesday.
“Quite simply, Eskom has a legal obligation to provide electricity to those residents who duly honour their financial obligations to the utility. While Eskom has every right to recoup expenses from non-paying customers, such must be done fairly.”
Eskom spokesperson Dikatso Mothae has refuted Mashaba's claims, saying the power utility is committed to meet with the city and to attend to the destroyed infrastructure in the affected areas.
On Monday, residents in Bram Fischer voiced their grievances to Mashaba, including the death of a 11-month year old baby which they claimed were as a result of the power cuts.
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In statement, Nersa said it has noted Mashaba’s comments..