Operating under the banner of ‘Soweto Shutdown’, frustrated community members have taken to the streets in protest against Eskom’s selective power cut strategy which emanates from years of non-payment and sky-rocketing arrears.

The protest, which threatened to barricade roads in and around Soweto, effectively shutting down South Africa’s most densely populated region, got off to a slow start on Tuesday morning. Various law enforcement agencies maintained a strong presence in the area, reporting sporadic disruptions during the morning commute.

Soweto Shutdown takes aim at Eskom

#SowetoShutdown Chris Hani Road just after Moroka Police Station. pic.twitter.com/WdGn2YCYd1 — Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 25, 2020

The Soweto Shutdown, which is expected to continue on Wednesday, when Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivers his 2020 Budget Speech, is in direct response to Eskom’s ‘heavy handed’ debt collecting measures. As South Africa’s energy crisis deepens and the utility’s operational capability shudders, Soweto’s debt to Eskom exceeds R18 billion; more than half of the national municipal bill still outstanding.

Soweto’s debt to Eskom, which has increased dramatically in recent years, has resulted in vicious protest action and public animosity, the latter resulting from the country’s dire load shedding predicament which emanates, primarily, from Eskom’s grim financial position.

While public sentiment has turned bitter towards Soweto’s supposed preferential treatment, residents of the area argue that Eskom – and the African National Congress (ANC) government – betrayed original agreements undertaken during the dawn of democracy.

⚠️UPDATE : All routes are operating as per normal. @JoburgMPD and @SAPoliceService Public Order Police are closely monitoring the #SowetoShutdown movement. ^TM pic.twitter.com/C3HaCrUixh — Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) February 25, 2020

Non-payment for services

Soweto ANC councillor Mpho Sesedinyane said that non-payment during the apartheid area was seen as a form of resistance and that the same ethos has been erroneously carried over into a democratic South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa himself has commented on the unsustainable situation in Soweto, saying:

“If public utilities like Eskom are to survive, then all users need to pay for the services they receive.”

Despite fervent pleas, a large portion of Soweto still relies on illegal electrical connections – some of which are installed by corrupt Eskom employees. The utility’s push to install prepaid electricity meters has been met with fierce resistance, often culminating in intimidation and violence towards Eskom staff.

Eskom’s debt-collection strategy met with fire

In the latter half of 2019, with Eskom running out of options to recoup its bellowing losses, an electricity disconnection program was implemented in Soweto. Eskom began disconnection households from the grid over non-payment. While the strategy was intended to be finely targeted, large sections of Soweto – even non-defaulters – have been rendered powerless.

Wholesale disconnections have left Soweto residents fuming.

Organiser of the Soweto Shutdown, and Johannesburg Housing Crisis Committee member, Thami Hukwe said:

“We want the state to immediately respond to the demands that have been made by our communities for a very long time.”

Another protest organiser, Rufus Tsheke, said that he did not support the barricading of roads and ‘general hooliganism’ but instead urged residents to wear black clothing, form a human chain and stay away from work.

Johannesburg Metro Police Spokesperson Wayne Minnaar has confirmed that extra boots have been placed on the ground in anticipation of unrest.