Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English by Yusuf Laher and in Afrikaans by Agust Schnepel
The DA in Ditsobotla is calling on Eskom to immediately release the results of tests conducted on the transformer and oil on Wednesday, to provide clarity on the extent of the damage and offer a timeline for restoration. This after a substation in Boikhutso was vandalised on Monday leaving areas such as Burgersdorp, Central Business District (CBD), Shukran, and Blydeville without power.
Following the vandalism, there has been no clear communication from Eskom regarding the current status of the situation, the extent of the damage, or any time frames for when electricity will be restored.
The DA also demands that Eskom provide the affected customers with a mobile transformer as a temporary measure to restore power while repairs are underway.
Eskom must be cautioned against using this outage as a credit control measure, punishing residents for the Ditsobotla Local Municipality’s failure to pay for services. A similar situation in September 2023 resulted in a 24-day power outage that ended only after legal proceedings.
The DA will not rest until the interests of residents, schools, clinics, and critical infrastructure are protected.