Residents of Khuma, Ward 35 in CH section living in formal housing say they are at their wits’ end after enduring repeated power outages, which they blame on illegal electricity connections from nearby informal settlements.
On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, residents from formal housing visited the section near the informal settlement to inspect if they are illegally connecting nearby informal settlements.
City Report learnt that the CH informal settlement is believed to have overloaded the local transformer, resulting in frequent blackouts. While our senior journalist, Thys Khiba was at the scene tensions escalated with residents from both communities now at odds and not sharing the same sentiments.
Speaking to City Report, formal homeowners say they are struggling with the impact of illegal connections made by their neighbours in informal settlements. Local residents like Dieketseng Moleko expressed deep frustration, noting they are left in the dark every evening due to persistent electrical grid overloads.
“This is very sad because every evening we face power outages due to overload,” said Moleko, a local resident frustrated by the daily disruptions.
The other affected resident, Lungile Dede said residents feel disregarded and disrespected.
“We buy electricity, but it does not last. We want a solution that will benefit the formal and informal residents.
“We are going to write a formal petition, mobilise for signatures of affected homeowners and submit it to the ward councillor to sign and submit it at Eskom offices,” he said.
The informal settlement and the formal one are only separated by a street.
In an interview with City Report, a resident from the informal settlement, Motshidisi raised a serious concern about electricity supply and blamed the municipality for the ongoing illegal connection. In addition, she expressed deep frustration with the local municipality over the lack of energy relief.
“We cannot spend R40 per litre for paraffin,” Motshidisi noted, emphasizing that the burden is impossible to manage given the community’s high unemployment rate.
Another resident from a different informal settlement, Velaphi Matha
“Politicians only come to listen to our issues when it is time to vote,” said another resident from a different informal settlement, Velaphi Matha. “They promised us Extension 12, but it has not been delivered. It is also alleged that our ward councillor Modesa refuses to sign our petition to Eskom, and we are no longer receiving paraffin with absolutely no communication from officials.”
City Report tried to get a response from the office of the mayor Fikile Mahlophe and responsible Ward Councillor Kgositsile Seitshiro by giving them a right of reply but that attempt was unsuccessful. The publication is still waiting for the response of Mahlophe and Seitshiro who acknowledged receiving questions.
Meanwhile, community members from other settlement raised concerns about electricity supply during the Taking Parliament to the People public hearings.
A resident of Jacaranda Settlement, Xolani Tshabalala indicated that residents in other informal settlement have been challenged since the suspension of free basic alternative energy support.
“It has been two years since free basic alternative energy in the form of paraffin was stopped in our informal settlements.
“About 70% of residents are unemployed and we appeal to the Minister to assist us in restoring this service while the municipality continues with plans to electrify the community,” said Tshabalala.
