EASTERN CAPE NEWS - Eskom announced it has made a business decision to withdraw its services from Sibangweni village in the Eastern Cape because the area poses a security risk for its employees as well as a business risk for the enterprise.
The power utility says that increasing reports of ‘life threatening’ incidents coupled with revenue losses from failing infrastructure and illegal connections in the area caused the decision to be made, saying acts of intimidation and violence have made it impossible to conduct audits in the village.
Recently, an Eskom employee was threatened at gunpoint by residents who demanded he reconnect illegal connections that was disconnected after meter tampering was detected.
“As part of normal operations, Eskom has a right and responsibility to remove illegally connected electricity users,” the company says.
Eskom says it has a responsibility to do routine maintenance in areas struggling with energy losses, but that the intimidation of its employees as well as continued energy losses in the area has caused the area to be viewed as a business risk.
The power utility says that although services have been withdrawn, it will engage with Nyandeni Local Municipality to find a solution.
