The Nelson Mandela Ratepayers Association says residents are paying so-called 'ransom money' to illegal strikers in the metro's electricity directorate.
The illegal strike which began last week, is said to be putting considerable strain on services and has caused delays in electrical problems being fixed.
Employees are demanding the payment of a scarce skills allowance.
The Association's chairperson, Kobus Gerber, says the failure to deal with 'scarce skills' issue has in effect led to the illegal strike which has led to a power crisis across parts of the Metro.
"The ratepayers are paying 'ransom money' to illegal strikers and irregular payments are going to be made for these strikers. Just due to the fact that the executive director of corporate services has not done his work properly, with the scarce skills matter. That is totally unacceptable" he said.
Algoa FM News received reports of power interruptions in at least 12 different residential areas from Seaview, to the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth as well as Rocklands and other parts of Uitenhage.
Some residents have been without power since Saturday and power faults are also not being attended to.
The CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Kevin Hustler says the strike is also affecting business specifically low voltage consumers in the commercial and retail sector.
