Eskom faces backlash as Elsies River residents protest days without electricity
Residents in Elsies River are up in arms, as parts of the community have been without electricity since last week, with Eskom failing them.
Frustrated residents took to the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday to burn tires on Owen Road, as parts of Eureka Estate, Clarke Estate, Uitsig and Leonsdale have been without power.
Ward councillor for Eureka Estate, Charles Esau, said that the community is being failed by Eskom, as multiple complaints have been logged but not attended to.
Esau explained: “The electricity is still off. Eskom is not playing the game with us. They don’t assist us by attending to our request for service delivery, leaving people without electricity since last week.
“We follow up every day with Eskom, but they are not assisting us.
“Eskom is failing our community. It is winter and cold.
“We have elderly residents, and Eskom is nonchalant. The rain does not have an impact because even during good weather, people's electricity is also off sometimes for a week.”
A Matroosfontein resident, who only wanted to be known as Alzayne, said that his electricity has been off since Friday morning, but Eskom staff are working in the area.
He said: “We are struggling. I have an eight-month-old baby, and my parents are elderly pensioners. We reacted immediately and have logged complaints since Friday.
Guys from Eskom are working in the area. I asked them to assist us, but they have not come around yet.”
Clarke Estate Community leader Johannes Weilbacht added that this is an ongoing situation.
“Parts of the community’s electricity have been off since Sunday. We never know the real story as to why the electricity is off, but it is always a struggle to get hold of Eskom because they take forever to come and fix the problem.
“This has led to people going to the road and protesting, and then only something happens, which is the case now.
“On Tuesday, residents took to the streets to burn tires, and last night the power went on, and some went on this morning again, but not everyone. The electricity will go on now, then be off in a few weeks or months.”
Eskom did not respond to queries by time of publication.
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