Residents of Moletsane, Soweto, clashed with Eskom technicians who were dispatched to install split meters in an area that has not had electricity problems.
On Wednesday, Eskom said a team of technicians were chased away and prevented from doing their job.
The power utility said it would then switch off that section of the township as residents are not paying for electricity.
But resident Dalton Moloi claimed Eskom was not being truthful.
Moloi said security guards arrived in the morning escorting an Eskom vehicle.
“Everybody knows that there are electricity problems in Soweto. We asked the technician to provide proof that he works for Eskom and also a job card that shows what he is here to do in our box. He failed to produce those documents and he had to go.
“They wanted to open our green [distribution] box, but we said he should tell us what he is here to do,” Moloi said.
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The green distribution box on Majoe Street has steel bars with large padlocks installed around it.
Moloi said the 148 households who get electricity from the box have not had problems of electricity and claimed that they were paying customers.
He said an area, known as the swimming pool block, is the one that has had problems with electricity and that Eskom should have gone there instead.
Emma Kgamphe, a resident from swimming pool block, told Sowetan it was puzzling that Eskom would send technicians to another section while they have not had electricity for nine months.
“Eskom was doing maintenance in October at a local substation, from that day we never had electricity.
“Eskom this year distributed pamphlets in our neighbourhood asking us to allow for split meters to be installed in our homes. We agreed to that because we were under pressure. Even with those meters installed in April, we still have no electricity.
“The question is why Eskom is sending technicians to people who have no problem of electricity and ignoring us here?”
Residents said their reading of the situation is that Eskom wants to bully all Moletsane residents into taking split meters.
There are 127 residents who are supplied by one green box and are without electricity.
The box has been vandalised and its cables cut out.
Last week, residents from various parts of the township marched to the office of Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, demanding that the city addresses their electricity problems.
Various parts of Soweto have not had electricity for months.
Soweto residents have been calling for the government to introduce a flat rate of R150 to R200 as many customers are unemployed and cannot afford to pay for electricity.
Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi said: “We had engaged the community and the leadership on the installation of split meters in the area since the community is failing to pay for the electricity they have used. By converting the customers to prepaid it is to assist them to buy upfront for the electricity they use and therefore manage their own consumption.
“In order for Eskom to restore supply to the area that is currently off, all customers that are connected to the same feeder have to be converted to prepaid. If the installation of split meters is not done the current customers that have electricity will eventually be in a similar situation as there is a risk of the feeder failing due to overloading,” said Qithi.
Qithi denied the claim by residents that technicians failed to produce identification.
“It is our policy that our employees and contractors should have a form of identification with them, which reflects who they are and who they work for. Should customers doubt their legitimacy they should contact Eskom to verify their identification. The residents who chased the Eskom employees out of the area are those who are refusing the installation of the split meters,” Qithi said.
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