Protea North teachers concerned about lack of electricity

JOHANNESBURG - Residents of Protea North in Soweto haven't had electricity for about three months.

Teachers in the community are concerned that the situation might affect high school learners writing their preliminary exams.

"We are suffering, we are a high school here, so as we speak we are preparing for the preliminary exams, the trial exams that is starting this week, so we don’t know," said teacher Sinethemba Delihlazo.

READ: Restore the power grid | Protea North residents living in the dark

"Where to start, our learners are not that well prepared. Remember that we are one of those smart schools and being supported electronically when it comes to the information."

Residents say when they approached Eskom for help, they were told that a transformer in the area was faulty.

But the utility has washed its hands of responsibility, saying the rising number of illegal connections in the area has damaged the electricity infrastructure.

READ: Lesufi's campaign to write Soweto's electricity debt off

In fact, Eskom will need at least sixty percent of the households within that area to make a payment arrangement with the utility in order for repairs to commence.

According to Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi, illegal connections are the root to the problem. 

"We picked up that these customers have bypassed their meters and also are buying this electricity from ghost vendors, which is the reason why the mini sub has failed, so we fine the customers for illegally connecting themselves," Qithi said.