BUFFALO CITY, Eastern Cape — Residents of an informal settlement in the Buffalo City Metro are threatening to boycott the upcoming November 4 Local Government Elections unless the protracted electricity crisis that has plagued their community for over 15 years is urgently resolved.
According to community members, the local municipality has failed to supply their homes with power since they settled in the area in the early 2000s. This prolonged lack of service has forced some residents to resort to illegal electricity connections. However, Eskom has recently disconnected these lines, leaving the community entirely in the dark.
The human cost of the ongoing outage is severe. Residents report that while some homes are connected via transformers at an alleged cost of over 10,000 rand, many families cannot afford this fee. Consequently, residents are forced to rely on firewood for cooking and bathing, and food storage has become nearly impossible. Schoolchildren are particularly vulnerable, struggling to complete assignments and study for exams in the dark, while even basic daily tasks like charging mobile phones have become a significant hurdle.
The crisis has also created life-threatening health risks. One elderly diabetic resident, who depends on insulin injections for survival, reported that her medication was damaged due to the inability to keep it under constant refrigeration. She was forced to discard the ruined insulin and rely on the generosity of another diabetic community member to avoid missing a critical treatment.
A Buffalo City Metro spokesperson addressed the ongoing dispute, clarifying that electrifying the community falls under Eskom’s jurisdiction, as the municipality is not a licensed electrical supplier for the area. The spokesperson noted that the municipality has consistently raised the residents’ plight with Eskom, given that the community falls within the Buffalo City Metro geographical area. However, municipal investigations revealed that residents built their homes on private land, complicating Eskom’s ability to legally ensure electrification. The spokesperson added that engagements are currently underway to find temporary solutions to these electrification challenges.
Acknowledging the community’s frustration, an Eskom spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the utility provider disconnected the illegal connections due to severe safety and hazardous concerns. The spokesperson further noted that investigations into the installation of approximately six unauthorized transformers within the community are currently underway.
With trust deeply eroded, community members emphasize that three previous councilors have failed to address this decades-long issue. Unless tangible progress is made, residents remain steadfast in their threat to boycott the November 4 elections, demanding accountability and immediate, sustainable power solutions.
