Bothasig residents are demanding answers from Eskom after a 72-hour blackout, which the parastatal says was caused by cable theft and vandalism.
In the early morning hours of Saturday October 12, Bothasig was left in the dark after cables were cut, vandalised and stolen “at various locations” in the area, according to Eskom.
By Monday afternoon, Tabletalk asked Eskom’s spokesperson, Danielle Lewis, when the power would be restored, and she said by 8pm that evening.
However, at 9pm, residents confirmed their power was still off. It was only at 10pm that some of them texted to say their power “just went back on”.
This is just the latest in a series of lengthy blackouts to hit Eskom-supplied parts of Cape Town this year. In February, Bothasig, had a three-day blackout that was blamed on cable theft (“Bothasig battles three-day blackout, Tabletalk February 14) and almost 1000 Table View homes were left without power for more than two days last month (“Power cuts plague Table View,” Tabletalk, October 2).
Bothasig Residents’ Association (BRA) chairperson Mario Borchards said residents were “gatvol” with Eskom’s inadequate infrastructure security.
“These cables are located in vulnerable areas and have been vandalised on three separate occasions recently. This ongoing issue is severely affecting our community, especially our senior citizens who rely on medical equipment such as oxygen machines that need consistent power,” he said.
Residents were complaining about perishable groceries being spoiled and those with small businesses had lost money, he said.
“It is unacceptable that Bothasig residents and businesses must continue to suffer because Eskom has failed to properly secure their infrastructure,” said Mr Borchards.
The BRA and other civic groups in the area had written to Eskom, demanding immediate action to protect substations and cables to ensure a more reliable power supply.
“Bothasig deserves better. We will hold Eskom accountable,” he added.
However, Mr Borchards said he was very proud of how the community had come together to help neighbours in need.
Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch and Richwood Neighbourhood Watch had patrolled the area to make sure homes in Bothasig were not burgled during the blackout and charging stations for phones and laptops had been set up at the All Ability Victim Support Unit at the Bothasig police station, he said.
Edgemead Neighbourhood Watch member Neal de Wit who helped with the patrols and the donation of foods and snacks to parts of the community said: “I am a firm believer that as a community, we can stand together and help each other in small ways, which will have a great impact on others.”
Joy Titus, a Bothasig Gardens resident and BRA member, said she was impressed by the amount of food that had been donated to feed the elderly and the children at Bothasig Gardens. The community support, she said, had included a gas tank for cooking, snacks for the children and braai wood.
Bothasig resident Val Hamilton said she had to store her food in a fridge by family in Melkbosstrand and she had driven to her sister in Sunningdale to have a shower.
Another resident, Brian Thompson, said all his food was spoiled, and he was angry that he would get no compensation for it.
“It was a nightmare. We had no sleep due to security issues, and then we are having to pay increased tariffs. Eskom has held us ransom,” he said.
Ward councillor Miquette Temlett said the power situation in Bothasig had reached a critical level.
“What initially appeared to be an inconvenience has deteriorated into a crisis, further highlighting Eskom’s persistent failures due to negligence and poor management,” she said.
Eskom did not respond to further questions by the time of publication.
Theft and vandalism of electrical infrastructure can be reported to the police or the Eskom crime line number at 0800 11 27 22.
