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An Eskom customer service centre
Residents at Siyandhani near Giyani in Limpopo have closed the Eskom customer service offices to protest against load reduction.
The residents are calling for answers for the implementation of load reduction in their area.
They allege that Eskom implemented load reduction without warning, despite promising to do assessments to detect non-compliant. households before taking action.
Community leader Given Ngunyula says school learners are unable to properly prepare for their exams due to persistent power cuts.
“We were shocked last week when Eskom implemented load reduction without any form of communication and this thing has got a very nasty impact on our daily lives. Right now, our children are writing exams, they can’t even study at night, they can’t even study in the morning because those are the times when Eskom cuts the power. It will have a serious impact more especially when it comes to learners’ results for the year, we are appealing to Eskom to come and do the audit that they promised to do instead of implementing load reduction.”
Limpopo Eskom spokesperson Matshidiso Phaladi says load reduction in rural areas is implemented due to non-compliant customers.
“Eskom continues to implement load reduction in feeders that are experiencing overloading because the continued pressure on our transformers and mini subs due to illegal connections and cable theft necessitate us that we do load reduction to avoid equipment damage as well as to safeguard the safety of our communities. Now in light of the new developments and terms of safety and everything then the office shall remain closed in compliance with the national decision.”
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