Alexandra in Darkness After Power Crew Attacked
A case has been reported to the police after a City Power contractor was attacked and badly assaulted by a group of people while on duty repairing a faulty cable. Image: Alfonso Nqunjana/News24
Published by Everything ZA News
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Residents of Alexandra township face an extended power outage after a mob attack on City Power contractors sent crews scrambling for safety. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday at the corner of Ruth and 13th Avenue, left one contractor injured and vital repair equipment stolen.
“The group pelted stones, injuring one of the contractors and landing him in the hospital,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena. “Other technicians managed to escape unharmed, but their toolboxes and cables crucial for the repairs were also taken.”
Fearing for the safety of its employees, City Power has withdrawn all but essential personnel from the area. “By this morning, only skeletal services were provided as technicians are scared to respond to Alexandra outages,” Mangena added.
The attack comes as a devastating blow to a community already grappling with power cuts. City Power attributed the outages to multiple faults and network overload in Alexandra. “This risky situation has forced us to embark on load rotation to alleviate the pressures on the system,” explained Mangena.
The assault has further exacerbated the problem. “The outage will remain prolonged due to the onslaught attack on the contractors,” Mangena said. “City Power will only allow its full complement of employees and contractors to return to the site when it deems it safe.”
Tshifularo Mashava, City Power CEO, strongly condemned the violence. “We urge councillors and community leaders to speak to their fellow residents to refrain from such counter-productive acts,” Mashava said. “We will be engaging the community leadership to express our concerns and request their intervention. If this violence continues, we will be left with no choice but to completely halt our services in order to protect lives.”
The Alexandra attack underscores the complex challenges faced by utility companies in South Africa. While residents grapple with power outages, essential repair crews are now hesitant to enter the area, creating a vicious cycle. A community dialogue appears to be the only path forward to restore both power and a sense of security in Alexandra.
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