GATVOL Elsies River residents took to the streets yesterday morning as some parts of the community have been without power for four days.b
Certain parts of Clarkes Estate in Elsies River have been affected too, as mense blocked off the entrance into the community by setting tyres alight and protesting on 35th Street and Old Stellenbosch Road. b
This was also the perfect opportunity for criminals to start attacking the vehicles as motorists were warned by crime groups to avoid driving through Clarkes Estate as thugs were robbing cars and trucks.
Community leader Johannes Weilbacht said the electricity has been out since Tuesday morning and despite various call-outs to Eskom, nothing has been done.
Weilbacht explains: “Here are some residents who have electricity, but a huge part of Clarkes Estate is without power and nobody knows what the fault is. We are unsure if it is vandalism or cable theft.
“The community have been trying for the past few days to get in contact with Eskom regarding the power outage. But daar kom niks van hulle af nie.
“There has been no effective communication from Eskom."
In response, Eskom says: “Electricity restoration efforts in Clark Estate, Elsies River, has been delayed due to unrest in the area. Operators were in the area to attend to the fault [yesterday], but had their safety compromised by angry protestors.”
Sitting with the same issue is Norman Arendse, 63 from Delft South, who suffers from asthma and is dependent on a nebuliser he shares with his seven-year-old grandson who has a lung disease.
He said that he has been without electricity for three weeks.
Arendse explains: “Three weeks ago when we arrived back home from my sister’s funeral the power was off. When we checked the meter box, the box was dead.
“We kept phoning Eskom and spent R300 on airtime but we got through to an answering machine.
“Eventually we got through and the call was logged and they said they will send a technician.
“Eskom would come in the road and switch on the neighbour's power but when we call them to check ours then they say they are not booked on our call, we should just wait.
“Last Tuesday a technician finally came and said he will be back when the rain subsides, but he never came back.”
The Daily Voice also reached out to Eskom but did not receive a response to this matter.