Community members residing at the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) flats in Kliptown had a face off with law enforcement as well as City Power officials who came to disconnect bypassed electrical meters in the area.

WHAT PROOF DO THEY HAVE?

An angry resident Thulani Khumalo claimed that City Power should have done their research before coming to disconnect them.

"I'm one of the people whose electricity was cut off two weeks ago along with 119 other residents in my block. They claimed that we have bypassed meters which was not the case with me. I travelled back and forth to City Power offices in Booysens to ask them to rectify their error because they can't disconnect me, when my house is in order."

Khumalo said his electricity has been restricted, alongside 12 other residents, but everyone else in his block remains in the dark.

"It's unfortunate that the majority of people in my block are pensioners whose meters were bypassed during installation by City Power officials and now it's a mess that the elders can't explain."

POVERTY RELIEF

Another resident Dave Shuba said the reality of this situation is that people are faced with poverty.

"I've been staying here for 20 years now and paying rent for my stay. Covid-19 came and left many of us unemployed and without means to pay for anything. Instead of the government reducing rental so that we can afford to continue buying electricity, nothing has happened."

Shuba told Zimoja that that he is currently paying R1500 rent.

"When we came here rent was R750 but it keeps escalating, we had agreed on a rent to buy proposal but 20 years later I'm still paying rent, buying water and electricity I can't afford. Before City Power and JOSHCO can come here, the government must come so that we can discuss a poverty relief strategy because we are poor," he said.

WE WILL BE BACK 

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said they had to halt the operation because the residents became rowdy.

"The situation became very intense here and after speaking with the community leaders we agreed to have a meeting with them to hear their outcry. Because the situation is volatile here, we've arranged that they come to City Power offices. However, we are still going to come back and continue with our disconnections."