Eskom to replace meters that Soweto residents bought from unauthorised vendors

JOHANNESBURG - Eskom says it will provide replacement prepaid meters to Soweto residents who were buying electricity tokens from unregistered vendors.

As of the 24^th of November, Eskom meters will only accept tokens from its list of pre-approved vendors.

On Monday, hundreds of Soweto residents formed snaking queues at several Eskom service hubs in the township to apply for the replacements.

To keep their meters working past the 24 of November, customers had to recode them however many Soweto residents missed the deadline.

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This is due to several reasons, including damaged meters, illegal connections and using non-approved tokens.

Eskom says it will provide new meters for all those affected however, those found to be at fault will face a heft penalty fee of r6000.

Resident, Phumzile Dubazane is one of the many that were fined.

“I wiIl try to pay the fine however I can’t pay it all upfront because I am unemployed and so is everyone at home.”

Eskom says meters that have not been updated will eventually stop working.