Eskom has significantly reduced the backlog of prepaid electricity meter upgrades, completing over 400,000 in just 24 hours. By Thursday afternoon, the number of customers requiring upgrades had dropped from two million on Wednesday to just under 1.7 million.
This progress comes as the Sunday deadline approaches, when all prepaid electricity meters in South Africa will cease functioning due to a global technical switchover.
Soweto Faces Challenges as Deadline Nears
Soweto remains a hotspot for outstanding upgrades, with long queues forming at Eskom customer care centers. In Diepkloof, tensions flared on Thursday as frustrated residents waited to update their meters ahead of the looming cut-off.
One resident, Thabo Thabane, expressed his frustration:
“Three days, no help. We keep on getting there, they tell you, ‘We are cutting off, come tomorrow.’ Tomorrow you come back and you start at the back there again.”
Minister Intervenes to Ease Pressure
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa addressed the growing discontent, assuring residents that Eskom is taking measures to accelerate the process.
“Extended hours, increased capacity, getting more people to help with people in the queues, so I’m confident about the ability to address the situation,” he said.
The minister acknowledged that Soweto presents a unique challenge, with many residents still illegally connected to the grid.
Efforts to Meet the Deadline
Eskom has extended operating hours at several customer centers in Gauteng and Limpopo to accommodate the surge in demand. The utility has also urged residents to upgrade their meters promptly to avoid disruptions.
With just days remaining, Eskom employees are expected to work around the clock to ensure as many meters as possible are upgraded before the nationwide switchover takes effect.
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