Residents from Leiden in Delft are up in arms as they are having week-long power outages as mense living in an informal settlement are allegedly stealing electricity from the power lines.
Resident Adelah Harrison, 58, said she has been living in Delft for 23 years. But since mense started putting up shacks in the area during the Covid pandemic, they have been having issues with electricity.
She explains: “It has been going on like this for five years, most of the time the power is off instead of on and we cannot take it anymore. Our power will be off for two weeks then go back on again for a day then off for another week or longer before it goes back off for weeks.
"We are homeowners who pay for electricity but we never have electricity. We as residents even tried to toyi-toyi but nothing happened.
"When Eskom comes to fix the cables as soon as they leave, these people living in the hokkies connect again. We have complained by Eskom but we need the problem to be solved completely.
"The affected roads are Palala Street, Afram Street and Fafan Street. Allegedly there is someone who connects the hokkies to the power cables and they pay him R650.
“The mense in the hokkies don’t buy electricity. My husband is 65 and sieklik. He has epilepsy and it’s not nice to struggle with him in the dark.
"You are still busy cooking then the power goes off in your face. This month alone the power has been off probably ten times.
"The power was off again this weekend, it wasn’t even on for a week toe is dit weer af. They came to put it on Monday but it won’t be long before it's off again.”
Another resident who is a crime-fighter in the community said they are facing the same issue and cannot even charge their phones or tend to crime in the area.
Ward councillor Dineo Masiu adds: “This issue has been going on for quite some time since the hokkies came into the area. I had some measures done in Voorbrug where residents experienced the same thing.
"I did a site visit with Eskom and requested Eskom to remove the electricity box which was situated near the hokkies and move it to the residential area. It took six months to get done and now Voorbrug doesn't have that issue anymore.
"I requested the same for Leiden and I am not getting feedback from Eskom. I have been sending emails, their offices in Belville are closed, it’s like we reached a brick wall when it comes to Eskom. I am trying my utmost best to meet them half way but they're not getting back to me."
The Daily Voice reached out to Eskom a week ago for comment, but they have not respond to our enquiry or follow ups.