Eskom withdraws electricity supply services in Sibangweni

Saturday, 06 August 2022: Eskom has taken a decision to withdraw its services in Sibangweni, a village within the greater Nyandeni Local Municipality with immediate effect. This follows recent incidents that were life threatening directed towards Eskom employees. The decision is taken to protect the safety of Eskom employees, its failing infrastructure, and to minimise the subsequent revenue losses that came as a result of energy losses from the area.

Eskom is unable to operate and conduct the necessary audits in the above area due to acts of intimidation and threats to Eskom employees. We recently had a situation where an Eskom employee was followed, threatened at gun point by community members who demanded that the employee reconnects supply that he disconnected due to tempering on the meter. The matter was reported to the South African Police Service and we are grateful that the employee escaped unharmed.

Eskom has a responsibility of doing routine work in areas struggling with energy losses. The criminal behaviour that was directed to our employee, coupled with energy losses that continue to happen in the area have been viewed as a business risk. The matter has necessitated Eskom to take a decision of withdrawing its services in Sibangweni with immediate effect. Eskom will be engaging with Nyandeni Local Municipality to find a lasting solution that will curb these seemingly increasing acts of intimidation and threats directed to Eskom employees.

As part of normal operations, Eskom has a right and responsibility to remove illegally connected electricity users from the Eskom networks and evident tempering in affected areas. We also urge our communities to cooperate with Eskom to deal adequately with electricity-related matters.

ENDS