An Eskom vehicle was stoned and set alight on Tuesday 21 July. Photo: Eskom
An Eskom vehicle was stoned and set alight on Tuesday 21 July. Photo: Eskom
Eskom officials have fired a serious warning to the public this week, as the company has given permission for workers to ‘down tools’ if they encounter a hostile work environment. Within an hour of this announcement, a vehicle belonging to the firm was torched in Khayelitsha.
Khayelitsha incident infuriates Eskom
No injuries or fatalities have been reported, but the incident just about sums up where Eskom is at with certain electricity consumers at the moment. After several local municipalities had their power shut off completely over defaulted bills, Eskom has also introduced ‘load reductions’ for areas with illegal connections.
This very public war spilled over into the streets of Khayelitsha on Monday. Situated 20km outside of Cape Town, the sprawling settlement has a number of overloaded connections – which prompted a visit from technicians. But local residents did not take too kindly to the outside presence, and responded with violence:
Watch: Eskom vehicle set alight in Khayelitsha
#EskomWesternCape has suspended operations in Khayelitsha, Cape Town with immediate effect after an Eskom vehicle was stoned and set alight.
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) July 20, 2020
We will continue assessing the risk and provide an update when the situation has changed. pic.twitter.com/d6muxTWGr1
Workers ‘can down tools’ in hostile situations
Eskom has also complained that civilians are essentially ‘harassing’ their staff whenever they are deployed to some communities. The utility states that their employees have the right to stop working if they find themselves in a volatile situation, and as of Monday afternoon, engineers have suspended operations in Khayelitsha.
“We are seeing a growing number of members of the public surrounding our employees while they are busy with their operations, or others trying to report their faults to technicians in breach of lockdown regulations. This behaviour may expose both our employees and other members of the public to COVID-19.”
“In instances where customers do not fully comply with the protocols, Eskom employees have the right to refuse the completion or continuation of work for their own safety. The work will be suspended and employees withdrawn from the area, especially with the increased risk of exposure to COVID-19.”
Eskom statement
#EskomGauteng #MediaStatement
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) July 20, 2020
Eskom warns against public interfering with technicians amid of Covid-19@News24 @SABCNews @NewzroomAfrika @SowetanLIVE @eNCA pic.twitter.com/vZOLxj6zQU
