Mamelodi will burn and no residents will be in the dark come 24 November.
Those were the words of (PCC) Progressive Civics Congress convener region 6 Jack Simelane when he addressed hundreds of elderly people and youth at Municipality office in Mamelodi on Thursday morning when they queue to change their prepaid meter.
“We will stop this and no household will be switch off come dead line.
There will be no Tshwane vehicles in our township that will be going around switching off and we will be on guard and waiting for them,” said Jack Simelane as he explained to Tshwane Talks.
More than hundreds of elderly people queue the longest queue in Mamelodi municipality offices to inquire about the new prepaid meter.
Elderly people came as early as 4am to be the first on the queue, but unfortunately, we’re never helped, and we’re turned away and told that there is no water and electricity.
It is alleged the mini sub cables were stolen on Wednesday night.
Elderly were so disappointed, angry and confused. Some left while some waited for a miracle to happen but none.
Elderly people were told to come back and queue again tomorrow morning.
Elderly waited in the hot sun without shadow, no water or food and no chairs. Some were walking with walking stick while others on the wheelchair.
An official explained to the elderly that when a person has connected illegally the city charges R29 000 fine cash non negotiate.
Simelane said the government did not do enough public participation and not many people have access to TV, social media especially our elders.
He also warned the new mayor about the rent issue. City of Tshwane must scrap all debts of the residents and then we can start all over.
“The new mayor pls don’t touch us on the issue of rent matter because we come far with this matter and it is opening up old wounds for our elderly and it is a very sensitive issue to us and personal ones,” he said with a sad face.
Simelane also said Eskom never did a public consultation in Mamelodi and explained to us about the new meter and how it works and now they are changing things.
City of Tshwane also never hold public meeting all they do they just called residents at the halls to do arrangements which they find our elderly heavy fine.
“The program that city did at the halls are a scam and we’re playing with our elderly just to demand more money from them,” he said.
The city of Tshwane must not even think about sending a vehicle to cut off electricity or there will be hell in Mamelodi.
“We are calling on City of Tshwane to scrap all historical debts of the residents because mostly are estimated.
“We are calling a big meeting for all Mamelodi residents and residents across Tshwane on 23 November 2024 at Mamelodi west community hall at 10am to discuss this matter and way forward,” he concluded.
“It’s happening again after 39 years they want to fight with the community of Mamelodi with rent issues,” fumed
SANCO member Mamelodi branch Happy Mawelelee.
He said our officials are playing with our elderly. Elderly people queue early in the morning to fix their prepaid meter but officials are nowhere to be found.
“We are here at the municipality office to get help but there is no help.
We don’t want to see a city vehicle running around cutting off electricity or there will be another massacre in 2024 here in Mamelodi.
We come to you officials of Tshwane for help so help us, we did not run away from our problem we are here, fix our problems,” he said.
He called on the city of Tshwane to cancel all historical debts not only Hammanskraal, this is city of Tshwane and we are the same.
Oupa Mtshweni of Mamelodi Concern Residents For Service Delivery said according to the public protectors investigation that the City of Tshwane billed Consumers irregularly for water and electricity based on estimated consumption due to its failure to take meter readings regularly which the find was whether the CoT’s existing complaint resolution mechanisms are ineffective in resolving the Consumers’ complaints; and whether the CoT irregularly added network access charges to the Consumers’ Municipal accounts.
The PP findings were partly substantiated and the city acknowledged these challenges.
The COT put in the remedial measures which were ineffective in resolving the consumer complaints.
Those who are heavily indebted and have proof that they can’t settle their Debt, their debt must be scrapped and put remedial measures that would make people to afford, fair and transparent.
“We submitted a memorandum to the office of the presidency regarding the matter and we are still waiting for the response.
We are still standing with our demand elderly must stop paying rent and we demand 40 flat rate,” said Mtshweni.
“I come here to fix my meter but every time I come here there are stories and I spend money coming here,” said Gogo Hilda Malatji (80).
“I came here at 6am and I did not have breakfast and I’m hungry and tired and did not drink my medication and now I’m told stories and don’t know what to do,” said Fredda Mashego (67).