THE Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCOGTA) MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has strongly condemned the recent attacks and hijackings of Eskom employees and expressed concern about the broader trend of attacks targeting other municipal service personnel in the province.

MEC Buthelezi emphasised the severe impact these attacks have on service delivery. “These acts of violence against essential workers, who are dedicated to serving our communities, are unacceptable and undermine our efforts to ensure reliable access to basic services like electricity and water,” said Buthelezi.
“When these frontline and technical staff are targeted, they are not only personally affected, but it also disrupts the vital work they do to keep the lights on and the water flowing for all residents.”

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The MEC highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents and their detrimental effect on communities. He stressed that these attacks not only endanger the lives of service personnel but also create an environment of fear that hinders their ability to carry out their duties effectively. “Our communities rely on these dedicated individuals, and we must ensure their safety so they can continue to provide these crucial services,” he added.

He urged communities to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies. “We need a collective effort to address this issue,” he stated. “We urge community members to work closely with the police and local authorities to create a safer environment for those who work tirelessly to serve us.”
Buthelezi made a direct appeal to residents across KwaZulu-Natal to play an active role in protecting service providers

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