“This Is Where We Are”: Mpumalanga Woman Repurposes Fridge After Having No Electricity for Months
- A woman from Figtree, Mpumalanga shared how she turned her fridge into a wardrobe after months without electricity
- The neighbourhood of 48 households needs to pay R112,850 for a new transformer but has only raised R32,000 in four months
- Her creative solution of using the fridge to store clothes and cosmetics went viral with over 5,000 reactions
Source: Facebook
A woman from Mpumalanga has found a creative way to deal with months without electricity by turning her fridge into a storage space for clothes and cosmetics.
Content creator @prohmeecee.lindyweh from Figtree shared the heartbreaking reality of her community's electricity crisis in a viral video posted at the end of July.
The post was shared with the caption:
"This is where we are now.💔 No electricity for months because the transformer in our area is damaged, and we still need to pay the remaining amount which is R80,850, we've managed to raise 32k from the R112,850 that was required."
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The woman explained that her neighbourhood of 48 households has been trying to raise money for four months to pay for a new transformer. With only 2% of residents employed and 98% unemployed, the community has managed to collect just R32,000 of the required R112,850.
In the video, she shows herself folding clothes and placing them on the fridge shelves, while using the door compartments to store lotions and hygiene products. She jokingly said:
"Since it can't keep my food cold, maybe it can keep my cosmetics and clothes fresh. At least let it feel useful because I didn't buy it to be furniture."
Source: Facebook
Mzansi reacts to the repurposed fridge
The viral video attracted over 5,000 reactions and 145 comments as South Africans shared their own electricity struggles:
@Mamaethan Chef Porche Baloyi shared:
"Thina in my location we no longer wait for Eskom, we buy our own transformers, we were sharing a transformer all 60 houses we separated and bought separate, each house had to contribute about 3000 but we did it."
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@Tiny Blessing Shikwambane related:
"Even in my place, they stole cables and we longer have electricity. It's been two months."
@Tebogo Mashile questioned:
"But getting a new transformer is not your job to worry about. It's Eskoms job, that one. Are y'all scared to go Eskom's offices?"
@Tapiwa Mutize simply said:
"It's called repurposing."
@Sbu Mokoena joked:
"Reduce buying so much moisturizers and get meat."
@Kulungile Lush encouraged:
"When you buy a fridge then it stops working, reuse ♻️ recycle ❤️😂"
@Queenzo Mokwena shared:
"I used to put my glasses and cups in my old fridge."
Transformer issues affect many communities
According to Eskom's website, over 2,000 transformers across the country are overburdened due to illegal connections and tampering, leading to overloading and explosions. In the past year, Eskom spent over R300 million replacing failed transformers and mini substations.
The power utility launched a 'Save Your Transformers, Save Lives' campaign, urging communities to reduce electricity consumption and prevent illegal connections. However, there are no official media statements about communities being required to buy their own transformers, raising questions about whether this practice is legitimate.
Watch the Facebook reel below:
Other electricity-related stories
- Briefly News recently reported on a Johannesburg man who revealed the shocking monthly cost of running a small heater, but the amount he showed had over 3,000 people realising why their bills are so high.
- Electricity Minister Ramokgopa directed SANEDI to address South Africa's high power costs, but his declaration about current electricity rates left many wondering what changes are coming.
- A local content creator busted myths about unused chargers wasting electricity when plugged in, but his surprising results about which devices can be left plugged in shocked South Africans.
Source: Briefly News
