• Tweet

COLD COMFORT: Nelisiwe Tshabalala and Bongani Nhlapo have been using candles to light up their house for more than 20 years. PHOTOS: VELI NHLAPO

BAD STATE: Bongani Nhlapo of Zola in Soweto, stands in his kitchen, which is covered in soot from a coal stove his family uses because there is no electricity.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Worcester residents march for service delivery
• Residents toyi-toyi over lack of services
• ANC infighting derails service delivery: Holomisa
• Service protest over toilets in KwaThema
• 'Delivery sacrificed' - Vavi blasts early sacrifice for Mangaung

It will cost them R2100 to reconnect the power supply, but they cannot afford the payment.

Bongani Nhlapo, 49, who went blind in 1996 after he was shot, lives with his partner Nelisiwe Tshabalala and their three children aged 20, 12 and five.

They live off his disability grant and the two younger children's grants.

They also receive donations of groceries and clothing from their church and local community.

"The electricity was cut off in the 1980s before we moved in and the house was still under someone else's name," Nhlapo said.

He also said that a tenant who was renting the house from his cousin before they moved in, went behind the family's back and registered the house in his name and did not pay for municipal services.

"We even went to the department of housing to inquire about the ownership and they confirmed that the house really belongs to us. We are still waiting for the new title deed we applied for three years ago," said Nhlapo.

In an effort to sort out the confusion with Eskom, Nhlapo was told he owed about R60000 in electricity arrears.

"When we approached Eskom, they told us we owed about R60000 and had to fix the title deed issue and pay R2100 before they could help us," said Nhlapo.

Eskom confirmed the house was registered under a different name, something that had to be corrected, and that payment needed to be made before installation of prepaid electricity meter box.

"Bongani has to pay R2100 (to convert) from a conventional to prepaid meter box. He has to submit documents such as pensioner's proof, letter of authority from the councillor, letter of medical report and an identity document," said their media desk.

Eskom also said they advised Nhlapo to follow procedure by producing documents and making small payments on the installation fee.

Nhlapo said that on seeking assistance from the councillor, a letter was given to them to give to Eskom but that failed to make a difference.

Zola councillor Siphiwe Zulu declined to comment, but invited the family to a meeting where he said he would see how he could assist them.

Their plight forces them to make use of a coal stove in the kitchen, which has affected their health and the condition of the household.

Their kitchen is coated in black soot caused by the stove, which Nhlapo said regularly causes everyone in the house to fall sick.

"It's really cold now. We can only afford to make a fire in the morning for tea before the kids go to school and in the evening so that they can at least eat and bath with warm water."

For the children, it is difficult to understand. "Our youngest child asked why we don't have electricity while the other houses are lit.

"The kids want to do their homework and watch TV, but the neighbours also get tired of their intrusion." - monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed Jun 19 09:09:15 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 27, 2012

LIZOLIZO

How batho! I dont even know how to light a caddle, what about this poor people leaving in a dark for 20 years , ba kwele hle.
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Mofida

@LIZOZO-Your dont even know how to light a candle,where did grow up,you sound like a spoilt brat to me.
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Lipgloss

20 years it doesn’t make sense, meter box were installed free of charge in zola unless they didn’t want it then.
In the location it cost only R30 to bridge the disconnected meter box

Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Papage

How bathong, where is Zola 7, Mdu and Dog Shebeleza, cant you help this family? I know you will do it, come on brothers help out here. Let us show this Coucilors and Government that we can not fail our own.
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Doculam

Where can we deposit some money? Come on guys, this is not a lot of money, but for this family, especially the kids it can make a HUGE difference.
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Usernamee

@Doculam

I wouldn't mind donating.....
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Mofida

me too i would not mind contributing some money,should this matter be raised by 702 radio,whites would have raised this money long ago,please lets go for it people.
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

Mamabear

hai suka maan Eskom do something these people are struggling sies
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

MicaParis

People are you surprised by that, it is a usual thing new tendency in South Africa!! Municipality as we know are in ICU in our country all of them with filthy rotten corruption and nepotism even God himself is surprised and who are we to trust those useless Institution which are family operated, that is why Service Delivery will always be a problem!!
Report Abuse

Jun 27, 2012

maditaba

I'm speechless
Report Abuse

Read all 41 comments