The recent extended power outage in Bothasig has led to one community initiative in the area suffering a significant loss. The community experienced a power outage on Sunday and Monday last week. There have also been outages reported in Richwood and Burgundy Estate over the past few weeks.
In a statement issued by the power supplier Eskom, it was said that cable theft and the vandalising of Eskom infrastructure along the N7 had resulted in the loss of electricity supply to customers in Bothasig.
Derek Serra, community leader, says the community organisation Soup for Seniors, which provides support for 18 seniors who live in Bothasig Gardens, was impacted negatively. He says they are deeply concerned about the frequent unplanned power outages that Bothasig has been experiencing over the past few months and that these outages tend to last for up to 24 hours, “although this last outage was for 37 hours”, he says.
Loss
“As a result of these outages, our residents and of course our seniors endure the loss of perishable items, with freezers defrosting and fridges warming up. The financial loss to each affected individual or family can run into thousands of rands.
“Who will compensate a Sassa-pensioner trying to survive on R2 150 per month when they lose half of their food for the month? Families will have just bought their meat for the month spending thousands of rands. It is a catastrophe to lose that amount of food,” he says.
He says their concern is that Eskom was incapable of dealing with the major emergency when it occurred, at 07:15 last Sunday morning.
“If they had done so, then the loss of tens of thousands of rands of spoilt food would have been avoided. We have heard that severe understaffing is to blame. That Eskom currently only has two qualified high-voltage engineers working in our area. This is totally unacceptable to Eskom’s paying customers in Bothasig.”
Serra says they call upon Eskom’s senior management in the area to explain to the residents of Bothasig, Richwood and Burgundy Estate what they plan to do to ensure that residents do not have to endure any further outages.
“Will a more reliable cable network be installed to supply our area as a matter of urgency?”
Theft
On Thursday, the Monte Vista Plattekloof Glen Neighbourhood Watch said it received information from the community groups that suspects were busy with cable theft along the N7 again.
“Eskom, law enforcement, and the police as well as various security companies and neighbourhood watches were informed and mobilised,” it said.
Eskom says it appeals to members of the public to report electricity theft such as illegal connections, electricity theft, tampering, cable theft and vandalising of infrastructure.
Members of the public can report incidents by contacting the Eskom toll-free crime hotline, 08000 11 27 22, or the local police station (10 111).
Callers may remain anonymous.
