Eskom has suspended its services in Makhaza after their employees were highjacked and robbed by three armed men on Saturday, March 15.
In a media statement, Eskom Cape coastal cluster general manager, Mbulelo Yedwa, said this means that there will be a much greater delay in electricity restoration in the area.
He said the management will engage SAPS and community leaders regarding the incident and find solutions to ensure the safety of staff before resuming services.
"We urge the community to come forward and report any criminal activity against our staff or infrastructure. The safety of our staff is non-negotiable and if any violence or harassment continues we will prioritise other electricity supply areas where their safety is guaranteed," he said.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk, said the men pointed firearms at the employees and forced them to hand over the car keys. “The employees were forced into their work vehicle by the men whose faces were covered. They were dropped in Green Point (in Khayelitsha). Four cellphones, a car battery, two step ladders and devices belonging to Eskom were stolen.”
Eskom has suspended their service in Makhaza after their workers were robbed by three armed criminals over the weekend.
Image: siyavuya khaya
A case of carjacking is under investigation and no arrests had yet been made, he said.
Ward 95 councillor in Makhaza, Ayanda Tetani, said this was not the first time that Eskom services had been suspended in Makhaza due to crime.
"This has happened in Nkanini and Zwezwe before," he said.
He said last year they decided that residents would escort the workers into the area.
Mr Tetani said the incident was worrying because it delays services and some of these workers live in Khayelitsha yet they cannot even provide a service to their community.
He said he would engage with the leadership of Eskom and the community of Makhaza to try to prevent this from happening again.
Last year there were two incidents where Eskom withdrew their services in Endlovini informal settlement due to crime in Ward 99. The workers escaped traumatised but otherwise unharmed. Ward 99 councillor Lonwabo Mqina said the community ensures that every time Eskom workers come into the area they are guarded and sometimes he does that himself so that they do not compromise the safety of the workers.