Question NW752 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
27 March 2023 - NW752
Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Whether he has been informed that Direct Eskom Customers in the Enon area in the Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality have been without power since December 2022 (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what (a) is the turnaround time for lines to be fixed that are logged onto the Alfred Application (App) and (b) steps will he take to ensure that the turnaround time for attending to faults logged on the Alfred App is faster than the two months it has taken for the vulnerable residents living in the rural Eastern Cape?
Reply:
According to the information received from Eskom
1. The Enon area in Sundays River Valley Local Municipality has reliable Eskom electricity networks, but they are frequently negatively affected by acts of theft and vandalism. There were no major faults affecting the area during the said period of December 2022. Eskom has, however been dealing with an increase in vandalism, stolen power cables, stolen airdac cables and stolen reclosers in the area. Eskom has identified that there is a high number of stolen airdac cables on the Sunday’s River and Greater Kirkwood areas of Moses Mabhida, Msengeni, Enon and Beshiba.
(2)(a) Eskom started by replacing airdac cables on the Moses Mabhida and Msengeni area on 15 February 2023 and that project is now completed. The observation is that in these areas, the customer airdac cables are being repeatedly stolen as soon as they are being replaced.
The focus of replacing airdac cables in now on Enon and Beshiba areas where there has been a spate of cable theft. The stealing of airdacs is an on-going issue which Eskom has been dealing with for a long time now.
(2)(b) Eskom Distribution Eastern Cape has been mitigating the theft of power and airdac cables by:
- Replacing all copper airdac and power cables with aluminium cables.
- Embarking on community mobilisation and co-operation (a plan is now being finalised to launch a community co-operatives programme with Sundays River Valley Local Municipality).
- Strengthening of security initiatives.
Prioritisation of faults considers the circumstances around a particular fault; and the channel used does not have any influence on how a fault is handled. Customers are encouraged to continue using Eskom’s digital platforms. The two cases highlighted in paragraph 2(b) are being investigated and resources will be assigned to ensure that they are attended to should it be found that the customers are still without supply.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
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