Ten years of darkness in Evaton: Residents lack power due to broken promises
ELECTRICITY CRISIS
The community of Evaton is still in the dark, with some residents surviving for over ten years without power or even the most basic government assistance, eighteen months after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi pledged to end the electricity crisis.
Lesufi pledged to extend the program to areas like Evaton, Ivory Park, and Winterveld in his 2024 State of the Province Address, announcing that 429 transformers had been delivered, 333 of which had already been installed and were powering roughly 32,000 homes.
“Through the Energy Crisis Response Plan, we partnered with Eskom and our implementing agent, City Power to deliver 429 transformers. To date, 333 have already been installed and switched on, benefitting no less than 32,000 township households.
“We have impacted the communities of Kagiso, Boiphelong, Doornkop, Orange Farm, and others. We will intensify this programme until every township and household has been legally switched on, especially Evaton, Ivory Park, Winterveld, and many other communities.”
During a DA oversight visit, it was clear that Evaton residents are still reeling from years without electricity.
One of the residents, Anah Tshitshi, shared her pain over living without electricity for years, describing how she has endured harsh winters and constant break-ins in the area, problems she believes are worsened by not having electricity.
“We are always experiencing break-ins at night. The thugs jump over our walls to get into our houses,” said Tshitshi. “As you see me now, I don’t even sleep at night anymore; I sleep during the day because at night we can hear them jumping into our homes.”
The 87-year-old, who relies on her social grant, pleaded with the government to restore electricity to her home. She recalled a near-tragic incident where she almost caught fire from a candle and said she often falls ill because she cannot store fresh food.
Margaret Moroke, who has lived without electricity for nearly a decade, echoed the same sentiments. The 85-year-old described how she endures cold nights, hunger, and the fear of constant break-ins, so much so that she now carries a whistle for safety, even during the day.
She added that she used to buy electricity monthly before transformers and cables were stolen, leaving her and many others trapped in darkness and despair.
Residents say living without electricity has drained their finances, forcing them to rely on expensive paraffin and gas for cooking, while others lost income after tenants moved out. The lack of power has also crippled small businesses and left learners struggling to study in the dark.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Infrastructure Development, Nico De Jager, said the ongoing power crisis in Evaton was the result of years of neglect and a lack of maintenance on the electrical infrastructure.
“The electricity supply started collapsing because there was no maintenance. Had it been done, we wouldn’t be here today. For 10 years, residents have been complaining, petitioning, and protesting, yet nothing has changed,” said De Jager.
He added that in 2022, Kingsol Chabalala DA Emfuleni North Constituency submitted a petition to the National Council of Provinces, calling for the electrification and maintenance of Evaton’s infrastructure.
“There was a commitment then made by the Premier later on that people of this area of Evaton will have electricity restored by March 2024, despite the Premier claiming that the 3,900 households need to be restored. We can't see the evidence of that, so it's just lies,” De Jager added.
He further explained that once the electricity supply fails, it triggers a chain reaction of destruction and displacement.
“The reality is that when the power goes down, cables get stolen, infrastructure is vandalised, and people, especially shack dwellers, move to the next area. That transformer then gets overloaded and burns out, and the cycle continues. We now have a situation where it’s believed that up to 6,000 people are living here without electricity.”
De Jager questioned Lesufi, asking what kind of life residents were being forced to live. He said it was undignified and unjust, adding that Lesufi and his executive did not endure such conditions, yet had stripped ordinary people of their dignity.
Speaking to The Star, Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga dismissed the DA’s claims, saying their statement reflected a misunderstanding of how electricity supply is governed. He explained that electricity provision does not fall under provincial authority but is the responsibility of local municipalities and Eskom at the national level.
“Despite this reality, the GPG has actively intervened to support residents facing energy shortages. This is particularly critical in areas like the Vaal, which has suffered from infrastructure decay.”
He added the DA’s claims were misleading, noting that through the Energy Crisis Response Plan, the Gauteng government has replaced over 200 transformers and installed solar high-mast lights across the Vaal, including Evaton. He added that the main challenge delaying full power restoration is not government inaction but severe vandalism, which has left parts of the low-voltage network beyond repair.
“Evaton was previously electrified; however, due to this vandalism, there is currently no network left to simply repair or reconnect. These areas now require a full and costly re-electrification project,” he added.
Mhlanga further explained that the provincial government has been working closely with national structures and welcomed the allocation of funds through the South African Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) to enable Eskom to begin re-electrifying the affected areas.
“Work has already begun, but the scale of the damage requires additional funding to complete the project for the entire affected community. The path to a lasting solution is built on understanding,” he said.
Mhlanga also emphasised that the DA’s statement showed a lack of understanding of how electricity governance works, arguing that without recognising it as a local and national mandate funded through programmes like INEP, the party could not offer a credible solution to the crisis.
However, the DA said it plans to table a motion for debate in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature over the government’s failure to electrify townships and urban areas that have suffered years without power. The party said it wants accountability for why Lesufi’s energy programme has failed despite millions being invested in it.
The Star