Eskom feels the heat in Soweto

Eskom has felt the wrath of Soweto residents who are frustrated by repeated outages.

Yesterday, Nancefield Hostel residents - who claim they endure three-hour power cuts on a daily basis - gutted 15 cars and vans, several of which belonged to Eskom.

A hostel resident, who did not want to be named, said the people were caught in the middle of the war between Eskom and its employees.

He said it was wrong of Eskom workers to get back at their employer by making citizens suffer.

Even though Eskom won a court interdict against a strike and power supply is deemed an essential service, Eskom employees downed tools on Tuesday and marched to the parastatal's offices in Sunninghill, northern Johannesburg. The striking workers are demanding:

• A15% wage increase;
• A ban on labour brokers in the sector;
• A R1 000 housing allowance;
• That an employment tax incentive scheme to be dropped; and
• That workers be paid a full shift rate during load-shedding when there is advance notice.

The Nancefield residents have vowed to continue protesting until Eskom brings power back to the area.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said Eskom had opened cases of malicious damage to property and public violence.

"It is not easy to trace people who are responsible for the burning of the cars, but we will do our best," said Makhubela.

Eskom' s Soweto spokesman, Reneiloe Semenya, said the power outages were the result of cable theft, and Pimville was another of the areas affected .

Last night, both Pimville and Nancefield were still without electricity.

Eskom had dispatched teams to try and restore power, said Semenya, appealing to residents to be patient.