A Mitchell’s Plain woman was forced to empty out her fridge at the weekend, after agents representing the City of Cape Town disconnected her electricity. Faghma Adams, a single parent, claimed this happened after she refused to have a prepaid meter box installed to her house. After numerous attempts by agents to get her to sign an agreement to change to the prepaid electricity meter, they left a letter with neighbours to inform her that her electricity would be disconnected last Wednesday.

Following several attempts, Adams failed to get her local councillor to explain the process and to determine how long it would take for her electricity to be re-connected. Out of sheer frustration, she managed to get hold of Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille herself and within 2 hours her electricity was restored.

After this weight was lifted from her shoulders, the primary school teacher was left with having to dispose of her month’s supply of perishable foods that had spoilt.

“I had to throw the spoilt food in the bin and some of it was given to the cats and dogs in the street. I would like to know if I will get any of it back,” said Adams.

VOC News attempted to contact Eskom for clarification, but was informed that it was a “City of Cape Town matter”. When the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral committee member for utility services, Ernest Sonnenberg was eventually reached for comment, he too could not explain whether the council had implemented such a policy.

But later, local councillor, Natalie Bent confirmed the council was not forcing anyone to change to the prepaid electricity meter.

“The mayor has addressed this problem and we are dealing with the situation. We had a letter sent out to the community stating that it is compulsory, however the mayor has now addressed it and it is now optional for people to install a prepaid electricity meter to their homes,” said Bent. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)