Dear Editor
The DA is deeply concerned that a reported 2-million South African electricity users face their Eskom-supplied power being cut-off, as their pre-paid meters approach a software update deadline in 4 days, on Sunday 24 November.
This fast-approaching deadline is a serious risk for millions of users, if they do not complete the update process before the deadline, as today the Minister has announced and confirmed that after Sunday’s deadline there is no fix for meters that were not updated in time.
We are now seeing snaking queues of thousands of poor South Africans trying to get their upgrade tokens today, at the last minute, across municipalities which have not facilitated this upgrade in time.
The DA recognises the extraordinary effort of many local governments which had systematically upgraded meters across their municipalities over the past years. As a shining example the DA-run City of Cape Town completed this process fully, way of ahead of schedule for all 570,000 pre-paid meters across the City.
On Sunday 24 November, a reported 2-million users of Eskom pre-paid power, who have not yet updated their meters, will not be able to load any further pre-paid credit, and will need to have their meter professionally removed and a new one installed. There will be no fix after the fact.
The DA foresees cuts to a large number of people, unless a quick turnaround takes place in the next four days.
The DA calls on all role players, and all sectors of society to communicate far and wide: Every user of pre-paid electricity needs to hear that this situation is serious, before Sunday.
The DA urges all South Africans to check their pre-paid meters and contact their municipality if in doubt.
Regards
Kevin Mileham MP
DA Spokesperson on Electricity & Energy