UDM CLLR Yongama Zigebe. Picture: Supplied
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) says City Power’s load reduction was only felt by the poor of poorest communities.
UDM said areas such as Alexandra, Soweto, Ivory Park, Fourways, Cosmo City, Diepsloot, Randburg and many other areas of Joburg were bearing the brunt of these power interruptions.
“The economic impact is profound as these areas house numerous small businesses that rely heavily on consistent electricity supply.
“Without it, they face operational disruptions, loss of income, and potential closure, further exacerbating unemployment and economic instability in these vulnerable communities. It is alarming that City Power has resorted to load reduction despite Eskom’s ability to supply electricity without load shedding.
“This paradox raises serious questions about the efficiency and management of our power infrastructure. The residents of Johannesburg could not partake in the national celebration of 120 days without load shedding due to the ongoing load reduction,” the party said.
UDM’s councillor Yongama Zigebe said City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality residents were facing severe challenges due to the recent implementation of load reduction, which was critically affecting the economic hub of South Africa.
“Despite the Minister of Electricity’s recent celebration of 120 days without load shedding, residents and businesses in Johannesburg continue to suffer under what can be termed ‘load shedding version 2.0’.
“Load reduction has been particularly devastating for small businesses, especially those operating in predominantly black communities such as townships,” Zigebe added.
The councillor further said the situation was further aggravated by the introduction of a R200 supercharge in the City of Johannesburg.
He said it was unacceptable to impose additional financial burdens on residents who were already struggling with unreliable power supply.
“Electricity is a fundamental human right, essential for the well-being and development of our communities, and it must be provided consistently and without such disruptions. We cannot continue to subject our people to these hardships.
The government and its entities must act responsibly and transparently, ensuring that all residents have access to reliable electricity without facing arbitrary and confusing terminologies for ongoing issues.”
Zigebe said in order for the situation to be resolved, institutions needed to invest in upgrading and maintaining the power distribution infrastructure to prevent technical losses and ensure reliable electricity supply.
He further said both City Power and Eskom needed to be transparent and provide clear and transparent communication about the causes of load reduction and the steps being taken to mitigate it.
The UDM councillor encouraged Johannesburg residents to demand immediate action in resolving the load reduction problem and to ensure that all communities can enjoy stable and reliable electricity.
Zigebe said It was crucial for the economic health of the city and the well-being of its residents.
Earlier this month, the power utility announced that it would be implementing load reduction, citing increased demand for power during the cold season and electricity theft as reasons.
This was despite Eskom’s decision to suspend load shedding. The load shedding has been suspended for 103 consecutive days due to sufficient generation capacity to supply electricity to the country.
According to Eskom, overloading was prevalent in its supply around Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and North West.
It is said that 94% of overloaded transformers are found in these provinces due to electricity theft and indiscriminate electricity use.
The Star
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