Eskom, the power utility in South Africa, has stated that it cannot promise compensation to businesses affected by the recent power outages in Mahikeng. The town had experienced a power outage that lasted for over a week, causing significant disruption to residential homes and businesses, including mortuaries, after a substation exploded.
The explosion occurred due to the cables that connected the electricity supply to several surrounding areas. Ezekiel Baruti, the customer relations manager of Eskom, stated that while they empathize with the affected businesses, they cannot promise to compensate them. He also added that Eskom is not responsible for the explosion and is awaiting the results of the investigation. He further stated that Eskom has not yet quantified the extent of the damage to local businesses.
Baruti mentioned that power has been restored to “80%” of the town, but some areas are still without electricity. He also noted that some parts of the town, like Danville, had been affected by vandalism. Recently, two people were caught in Danville after they vandalized the substation in that area. Baruti mentioned that these individuals had caused damage during power outages, and when the power comes back, that part will still not have electricity.
The power outage in Mahikeng affected several businesses, including small and medium enterprises, which suffered significant losses during the prolonged outage. The loss of electricity affected businesses in various ways, including the spoilage of perishable goods like meat. The inability to operate machinery and equipment also led to delays in business operations, leading to a loss of revenue.
However, despite the impact of the power outage on businesses, Eskom has stated that it cannot commit to compensating them. This decision has been met with criticism from some quarters, with some arguing that Eskom should take responsibility for the damage caused by the explosion. However, Eskom has maintained that they are not liable and are awaiting the results of the investigation.
The power outage in Mahikeng highlights the challenges faced by Eskom in providing consistent and reliable electricity to its customers. Eskom has been plagued by problems in recent years, including aging infrastructure, corruption, and mismanagement. These issues have contributed to frequent power outages, which have had a significant impact on households and businesses across the country.
Eskom’s inability to compensate affected businesses in Mahikeng highlights the need for a more sustainable and reliable electricity supply in the country. While Eskom has made efforts to address some of the challenges it faces, including the deployment of renewable energy sources, more needs to be done to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of electricity.
Eskom has stated that it cannot promise to compensate businesses affected by the recent power outage in Mahikeng. While the power outage had a significant impact on businesses in the town, Eskom has maintained that it is not responsible for the explosion that caused the outage. The incident highlights the challenges faced by Eskom in providing consistent and reliable electricity to its customers, and the need for a more sustainable and reliable electricity supply in the country.
Mboma Mboma