Protests and 'threats' force Eskom to suspend work in Butterworth


Butterworth and Komani were brought to a standstill last week as protesters ran amok, burning tyres and blocking roads.
Image: Daily Dispatch/Thembile Sgqolana
Eskom in the Eastern Cape has suspended operations in and around Butterworth after employees were threatened and insulted for working while the town is on a “shut down”.
Protest action has flared in the town over the past two weeks, with roads being barricaded over service delivery issues including water and electricity.
“Butterworth is engulfed by an ongoing community protest and we have taken this decision in the interests of the lives of our employees,” the power utility said in a statement.
Butterworth and Komani were brought to a standstill last week as protesters ran amok, burning tyres and blocking roads, DispatchLIVE reported earlier.
In one incident, a Komani taxi driver was pulled from his vehicle and doused in petrol after angering protesters when he tried to get past them. He was dragged to safety by protest leaders.
Eskom said it would monitor the situation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kobe Bryant Dies in a Helicopter Crash: Live Updates

Image
The retired N.B.A. star, 41, and his daughter Gianna were among nine people in a helicopter that crashed near Calabasas, Calif. A college baseball coach and his wife and daughter were also killed. RIGHT NOW Authorities in Los Angeles County said it could take several days to recover bodies from the crash site, as the helicopter crashed in rough terrain. Here’s what we know so far about the crash. Video TRANSCRIPT 0:00/1:11 Fans and Friends Mourn Kobe Bryant After Helicopter Crash The retired N.B.A. star, 41, was among the passengers in a helicopter that went down in Calabasas, Calif. “Kobe, my thoughts are with you absolutely. Rest in peace, young man. This loss is, it’s just hard to comprehend.” “Everything I do, I do it for him, obviously. Really close friend — and this season’s for him.” “The N.B.A. and the game of basketball will mourn this loss together. Please join us in a moment of silence for Kobe Bryant. Rest in peace, Mamba.” ...
Read more

Policewoman kills boyfriend

Image
An Eastern Cape policewoman has been arrested and charged with murder after shooting dead her boyfriend of five months on Thursday evening. Constable Nangamso Jayiya, 30, based at  NU1 police station in Mdantsane, on Sunday confirmed to DispatchLIVE that she had killed her “jealous” boyfriend Anele Veli, 33, claiming she did so in self-defence after he assaulted her. In a shocking twist, two of Veli’s sisters, aged 33 and 27, have been arrested for arson after Jayiya’s NU8 home, where the shooting took place, was allegedly petrol-bombed hours after her arrest. Jayiya said she had pleaded not guilty to murder in court, and told the magistrate she would plead self-defence because he had attacked her. “I don’t owe people any explanation. “They can think whatever they like about me, but all I am saying is that my life was in danger,” she said. She would not say how she was assaulted, adding she was not willing to comment further on the matter as it was now...
Read more