AfriForum yesterday sent a request to Eskom asking that it takes the safety of farmers into account when power supply is cut off. This comes after a farmer from the Heidelberg district, Douw Venter, lodged a complaint after the power giant cut off his electricity without prior notice. When he complained to Eskom, the operator replied: “We don’t care about farm attacks!”

Mrs Venter explained to the Eskom operator that to their knowledge their account is up to date and asked that the power supply be reconnected because it is dangerous on the farm without electricity. The operator answered that Eskom does not care about farm attacks and the Venters should simply pay their account. Venter and his wife did not receive any notice that their power will be cut off and had to wait 24 hours before it was restored.
“Eskom should be reasonable and send a 14-day notice of planned power cuts in advance. Especially in the rural areas where people need to be able to make precautions for their own safety. I can’t understand why Eskom does not want to put their cards on the table by giving us the recording of the phone call as they had agreed to do,” says Marcus Pawson, coordinator for AfriForum in South Gauteng.
AfriForum also requested that Eskom take the safety of farmers into account before they cut electricity in rural areas and that efficient credit control should rather be applied in cases where it may be necessary to recover fees from consumers. AfriForum made a final request that emergency numbers be made available to be able to respond to emergency situations. It should also be managed on a 24 hour basis.

Join the Heidelberg branch of AfriForum. SMS the name of your town to 45342 (R1).

Issued by AfriForum