A Kyalami resident took an unusual stand after her area was left without electricity for nearly three days.

She parked her car across the entrance to the power utility’s substation, and refused to move until power was restored. Leila Kuhlmann, who lives on a large property in Treesbank AH, near Steyn City and Helderfontein Residential Estate, said she decided to confront the issue directly after multiple attempts to report the fault brought no response.

When electricity went out due to a failed phase on a nearby power line, she said the outage quickly disrupted daily life on the property.

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“We should get service in South Africa. We pay our rates, we pay our taxes. I pay between R7 000 and R10 000 a month for electricity to Eskom. You would expect to get service.”

The outage meant that the approximately 25 people living and working on the property were left without basic services. “I had no security because I had no electricity. I had no water because my borehole runs off Eskom power, and I had no hot water.”

After sending photographs and a location pin of the fault to Eskom contacts without receiving feedback, Kuhlmann decided to drive to the nearby substation along R55 Road near Kyalami. When she arrived, she parked her car across the entrance gate, preventing vehicles from entering or leaving.

“I told them I’m sitting here until such time as I get service. I’m not allowing anybody in or out.”

Security guards initially questioned her actions, but Kuhlmann remained firm, saying she had come prepared to wait. “I had my blanket, my pillow, some food, and a flask of hot water. I told them I’m not leaving until the electricity is back.”

Vehicles soon began lining up on both sides of the gate while technicians and staff attempted to access the facility. During the two-and-a-half-hour standoff, Kuhlmann said she spoke with Eskom staff about the difficulties they face responding to faults.

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“They told me they are trying to train people, but it will take a long time before they can send them out into the field.”

She was also told that there were no functioning cherry picker vehicles available, equipment typically used to reach power lines safely, forcing workers to climb the pole using ladders. “That means they are risking their lives just to fix the problem.”

Eventually technicians arrived and began repairing the damaged line, which Kuhlmann said had been sparking and releasing smoke. She refused to leave the substation until she received confirmation that electricity had been restored throughout the area. Within a few hours, power was restored to the entire area.

Kuhlmann believes residents should stand together to demand better service delivery. “We need to stand together and say we want services. This time I was alone, but next time I will ask people to come and join me.”

We reached out to Eskom for comment. An update will be provided after it has been received.

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