Eskom denies allegation stating that “load reduction” was majorly based on black communities.
On Tuesday, the power utility said high residential areas in Gauteng, which are mainly the townships, had huge problem due to illegal connections and vandalism.
“People tamper with transformers and connect themselves illegally and that results in them abusing electricity. We have decided the best way to protect not only the transformers but Eskom’s employees and money is to switch off power when the most damage occurs”, Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha said.
“Eskom has not said it is black people that steal electricity, Eskom has said in the high residential areas we have massive problems of illegal connections”, he added.
The process, Eskom said, was not targeting of black communities, as some have alleged.
