JOHANNESBURG - For Johannesburg residents battling prolonged power cuts and disputed municipal bills, another City Imbizo has left a familiar question hanging in the air: When will the promises translate into results?
Residents in Yeoville have once again confronted the City over persistent electricity outages and the billing problems they say are making life increasingly difficult.
Some say they have gone weeks without power, while others report repeated outages that are disrupting businesses, households and livelihoods.
For 69-year-old Candy Pretorius, the consequences are particularly serious.
She relies on an electrically powered oxygen machine provided by a hospital. When the power goes out, she has to arrange for oxygen cylinders to be delivered to her home.
She says her street is without electricity again.
But power is not her only concern.
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Pretorius says she has repeatedly been billed based on estimated meter readings, leaving her with an account of about R47,000 that she cannot afford to pay.
The electricity and billing crises have become recurring issues at City Imbizos, with residents demanding concrete answers from the Johannesburg administration.
Mayor Dada Morero says the City is working to resolve the electricity problems, but points to cable theft, vandalism and damage to substations and other infrastructure as some of the causes of prolonged outages.
He says repairs can only begin once damaged infrastructure is restored or replaced.
But residents say explanations are no longer enough.
They want clear timelines, functioning infrastructure and reliable electricity.
The City has held several Imbizos as part of its efforts to address residents’ concerns.