Man Dies While Waiting To Update Eskom Prepaid Meter In Soweto

Hundreds of Soweto residents were left “traumatised” on Thursday after a man reportedly died while waiting in line to update his Eskom prepaid meter. The incident occurred just days before the Sunday, 24 November deadline for prepaid electricity users to upgrade their meters.

Incident Details

According to SABC News, individuals in the queue at an Eskom office reported that the man collapsed after waiting in the long line. Despite the severity of the incident, police have reportedly stated that no investigation into the death has been initiated at this time.

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SurgeZIrc SA reached out to Johannesburg Emergency Services, the Gauteng Provincial Government, and Eskom for comment, but no responses have been received yet.

The urgency to upgrade prepaid meters stems from a directive by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who confirmed during a media briefing on Wednesday that no extension would be provided.

Minister Ramokgopa emphasised that those who fail to upgrade key revision number 1 (KRN) on their prepaid meters by Sunday would be left without power and forced to pay for a replacement meter.

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With over two million people yet to upgrade their meters, concerns have risen among the public. The minister highlighted that the 4.9 million customers who have already upgraded are subsidising the remaining 2.1 million. He further noted that many of the 2.1 million individuals have not purchased electricity in the past six months.

Ramokgopa On Eskom Prepaid Meter

“The victims are not the 2.1 million people, it’s the 4.9 million. The great majority of the 2.1 million people have not bought electricity in the past six months. Go to houses, the meter is there, the lights are on – ask yourself how is that possible?

“The only possible response is that they have bypassed and I know of municipalities that have been fighting this battle,” said Minister Ramokgopa.

Eskom, which has more than 6.9 million prepaid clients, indicated that customers could pay up to R12,000 for a replacement meter.

As the deadline approaches, the pressure mounts for those who have yet to comply with the upgrade requirements, amid concerns over the capacity to handle the rush and the implications for those unable to meet the deadline.

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