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 Truly God does listen. Our prayers have been heard and I am so happy 

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• Over 20 years without electricity

Last month, Sowetan ran a story on how Bongani Nhlapo, 49, who went blind in 1996 after he was shot, lived without electricity.

Nhlapo and his partner Nelisiwe Tshabalala share the house with their three children aged 20, 12 and five. They live off his disability grant and the two younger children's grants.

The previous tenant owed Eskom at least R60000 in electricity bills and the power was cut off. Nhlapo's family did not have R2100 to reconnect the service.

City Power and the MMC of environmental affairs, Matshidiso Mfikoe, pictured, provided the family with prepaid electricity.

Acting City Power managing director Sicelo Xulu said: "Eskom has confirmed that they have installed a prepaid meter. We will register them with our expanded social package and they will get 150kw/h per month for free."

It would have cost them R2100 to reconnect the power supply, and they could not afford the payment.

Mfikoe said: "I was really touched by this story and I knew I had to do something about this matter. We thank the newspaper [ Sowetan ] for making us aware of such matter."

Other than electricity, the family was given food parcels. They also receive donations of groceries and clothing from their church and local community.

"Truly God does listen. Our prayers have been heard and I am so happy," said Tshabalala.

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

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

"We even went to the housing department 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. - lerato@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Mon May 20 11:21:32 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 12, 2012

Manndudu

Siya ni bongela Sowetan for covering story of this nature. it is so painful to hear that the family suffered for such a long period while politicians in the area were hosting victory parties after parties. go on searching another stories, probably it's not only this family in the area
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Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

Good one Sowetan keep doing a splendid job and exposing this useless ppl, Matshidiso is a liar surely they have records of ppl owing and keeps records of this now she claims she only read bout it on the paper damn skippy useless anc

Nhlapo mara le lena why move-in in the house where electicity was cut-off? Thank goodness its all sorted out now
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Jul 12, 2012

Pointman

Happy for the family bit the city council should also help with the wiring. Just look at that light fitting - that woman is 2cm away from a funeral.
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Jul 12, 2012

Mara_Y

this make me think, if they owe eskom R60 000 on electricity what about the municipality on water, rates and taxes. i feel for them
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Jul 12, 2012

PUPU

We must all run to sowetan to publish our story to get help from OUR GORVERNMENT?
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Jul 12, 2012

itsinshecried

MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe (bottom picture), those are exposed live wires. In future do not come close to live wires. Those wires have a potential of taking you to heaven (or hell if you are not a honest politician).
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Jul 12, 2012

Papage

It is like only the media can shake the Authorities, if you go there by yourself and try telling them your problems they can't help you. So I advise everyone with problems go to Sowetan, Sun and expose these useless Leaders.
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Jul 12, 2012

AndrewPienaar

Congrats Bongani - so happy for you. It's amazing what we take for granted!
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Jul 12, 2012

MommaC

"The previous tenant owed Eskom at least R60000 in electricity bills"

How? The sods cut me off when I accidentally short paid them R7.20 (okay they also cut me off when I overpaid them as their 'system' doesn't recognise a credit).
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Jul 12, 2012

manyobaa

After 20 years, but our democracy is 18 years old mos.
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