Kamogelo Olaitan
Eskom technicians are being increasingly attacked and robbed while attending to repairs across Gauteng.
In one incident which took place on Wednesday, 25 May, a technician was stabbed in the face and chest while he and his colleagues were installing meters, at a substation in Nomzamo, Soweto.
Most of the attacks take place either in Soweto or Mabopane while technical teams are busy with repairs to transformers and street lights, the power utility giant said in a statement.
The thugs’ modus operandi is to demand victims’ wallets and cell phones before using vehicles without registration plates to get away.
Earlier in the week, two technicians were attacked and robbed in Mabopane by armed thugs.
And in a separate incident in the same township, another technician was attacked at a substation and his money and cell phone were stolen.
“We condemn such acts of violence against our employees in Gauteng, where they are often assaulted, intimidated and placed in extreme situations such as being held hostage by some communities,” Qithi said.
Eskom said that attacks on technicians not only hinder the progress of repair work on crucial projects but delay residents getting their power back. The attacks also cause Eskom employees to suffer post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety.
Eskom urges anyone aware of crimes or acts of violence against its employees to report them to SAPS or to Eskom’s crime line number, 0800 112 722.
