Eskom demands cool drinks from residents to connect them to electricity. - Counselor Maboke.

"We have a problem with Eskom officials, who are assisting our residents to bridge electricity." Said The Diepsloot ward 113 counselor Abraham Maboke. Picture: Lentswe.com

Maleka Charles

The Diepsloot ward 113 counselor, Abraham Maboke slammed the Eskom officials on Thursday, for helping the residents with illegal connections of electricity in some parts of Diepsloot.

Maboke told Sloot Fm, that these officials demand bribes from the residents just to have them illegally connected to power in their homes.

"We have a problem with Eskom officials, who are assisting our residents to bridge electricity."

"Instead of fixing the problem, they tell our residents for the sake of you having power, just give me a cool drink to connect the electricity for you."

The counselor also highlighted the languid service by Eskom when it has to deal with the defects of power in the community as a major concern.

He said Eskom takes almost six months before it responds to the power issues faced by the residents of Diepsloot. 

Click here to listen COUNSELOR ABRAHAM MABOKE SPEAKS TO SLOOT FM

"We have many residents, who had reported to Eskom that their power boxes have faults and Eskom takes time without attending them. Sometimes it takes six months before it attends them."

Maboke urged the community to report their power faults to his office, where he will draft them a letter they can take to the management of Eskom.

"If you have a problem with electricity, my office is opened, come and report, I'll do a letter for you that is going straight to the management of Eskom.'

"If there's a problem with your box, they'll come and inspect it and do what is necessary."

As a public voice, he urged Eskom to bring the auditing team to check if the residents are paying their electricity bills or not.

He said if happens residents are not found to be fitting their bills, they will be penalized and have their power cut off.

"Our voices as public figures is to say Eskom if you think our people are not paying for their electricity, bring the auditing team."

"The auditing team will go house to house and check who is paying, those who are not paying, their electricity must be cut off and must be given a fine.

Maboke also apologized to the residents for not attending to their problems on time as expected about electricity cut offs in their respective extensions, as he was serving a suspension.