Residents demand that Sol Plaatje remove all smart meters
Residents voiced their disapproval over the new electricity smart meters during a protest at Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
SOL PLAATJE Municipality executive mayor Martha Bartlett has admitted that she does not yet have an electricity smart meter installed at her residence.
Addressing a group of Community Alliance South Africa (CASA) members and city residents who marched to the municipality this week to protest against the smart meters and other electricity-related issues, Bartlett stated that she had installed an inverter at her home at her own expense.
“Myself as the mayor, along with all councillors, the Speaker and the chief whip - we must still get the smart meters. I don't have a problem with them,” she said.
Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett said that she, along with councillors, the Speaker and chief whip, had yet to install smart meters at their homes
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
The municipality received a R100 million grant from the National Treasury to replace existing prepaid meters in order to improve revenue collection, implement accurate billing, and enable better consumption management.
However, many residents have complained about a noticeable increase in electricity consumption since the installation of the smart meters.
“We have to choose between putting food on the table or buying electricity. We are unemployed and pensioners,” the residents said.
Several protesters carried placards stating that they were “fed up” with Sol Plaatje Municipality, which they described as “populated by crooks”.
Residents said they were "fed up" with the high cost of electricity.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
CASA convener Herbert Japtha called for all 15,000 “expensive and discriminatory” smart meters in the city to be removed within seven days.
“All councillors and the mayor must lead by example and have these smart meters installed in their homes immediately so that they can experience firsthand the challenges and frustrations faced by Kimberley residents. All blocked electricity meters and accounts must also be unblocked,” he added.
The memorandum submitted by CASA called for a reduction in electricity costs for city residents.
“It is our request that the original electricity meters be reinstalled by locally qualified companies. Any unqualified subcontractors currently working on the project must be immediately removed.”
CASA convener Herbert Japhta said the smart meters were more costly than the old prepaid electricity meters.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Beaconsfield resident Maggie Huck said that, as a pensioner caring for small children, she had fallen behind on her electricity payments.
“My Grade 11 child cannot study or do her work in the dark. I am unable to pay the required R5,700 to unblock my electricity and the monthly payment of R2,800,” she said.
Irate residents from the Roodepan flats said they had been living without electricity for several months.
Residents protested over unaffordable electricity tariffs.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Esmerelda Stevens noted that residents of municipal flats were not permitted to fall behind on their electricity bills, as water and sanitation services were already subsidised.
“My four-year-old child cannot use a nebuliser without electricity. We rely on candles and a gas stove. My 70-year-old neighbour is in the same boat and struggles to walk,” she said.
Ernestine Ontong accused the municipality of being “spiteful” after her electricity supply was not restored, even though she had paid R1,500 to unblock her meter box.
“I live with nine people – three adults and six children – at the Roodepan flats, and no one has an income,” she said.
Residents accused Sol Plaatje Municipality off being full of "skelms".
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo