Diepkloof residents are slowly returning to normal life after electricity was finally restored following a prolonged outage that left the community frustrated and in the dark for nearly a week.
While power has been reconnected, anger still lingers among locals who say the lack of communication from authorities during the blackout made an already difficult situation worse. Many residents claim they were left without clear answers about the cause of the outage or when electricity would return.
Community leader Sibongiseni Khoza suggested that the situation may not have been purely technical, raising suspicions of possible interference or internal disputes. He argued that while non-payment could justify a shutdown, selective outages raise questions.
Residents in the area took to the streets earlier this week in protest, blaming City Power for the disruption. Demonstrations escalated, prompting police intervention, with officers using rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
Frustration among residents was fuelled by the impact of the outage on daily life. Households reported spoiled food, inability to cook, and children being forced to bathe in cold water during the winter chill. Some said the conditions had begun affecting their health, particularly among young children.
Community members also voiced concern over ongoing affordability issues, saying that while they are expected to keep up with municipal payments, many households are struggling financially. They called for more practical solutions and better engagement from officials.
Ward councillor Sthembiso Mashinini attributed the blackout to a payment dispute involving Eskom and City Power. According to him, an outstanding debt of approximately R1.5 million linked to the hostel’s electricity supply led to the disconnection.
He explained that although electricity infrastructure repairs were carried out in surrounding areas, supply to the affected section remained cut off due to the unresolved payment. The City has since committed to settling the debt, with payment expected to be processed shortly after the public holiday.
Mashinini also dismissed claims that he was responsible for the outage, saying misinformation had spread within the community and contributed to tensions on the ground.
Although electricity has now been restored, residents say the incident has exposed deeper issues around service delivery, communication, and infrastructure management in Soweto. Many are calling for greater transparency and accountability to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
