It would seem that residents of South Road are experiencing the same cable theft issues that the Record previously reported on in Main Reef Road (now Albertina Sisulu Road) in Roodepoort.
Angered residents have been calling DA Councillor Gert Niemand and the Record offices with complaints about not having electricity. Although it seems to be an ongoing problem, recent complaints suggest that the bigger electricity struggles started on Friday 5 June.
Mandy, a resident of the area, is complaining about having had to cope without electricity at night for the past three days.
“It is bothering us because we are paying citizens.
“These temporary settlements near our residences are causing the problems, I believe.
“The temporary settlements were supposed to be here only for three years, but are still here and causing problems for the whole neighbourhood.”
Niemand could not provide any further information about a possible solution to the electricity problems.
“This is a basic cable theft issue similar to what we had to deal with in Main Reef Road recently.
“It has been escalated to Solomon Bengu, as this is regarded a Johannesburg City Power complaint.
“He has not come back to us with a solution and it is impossible to get hold of him via the telephone,” Niemand told the Record.
“Unfortunately for the residents, the Princess informal settlement is causing problems in the area and will continue to do so until their social issues finally are resolved.
“This means that the problems will not be dealt with once and for all, but that the area needs proper policing to prevent these problems as far as possible.”
To date the Record also was unable to reach Bengu for further comment.
