“We expect professional and efficient service from personnel working at an emergency centre,” this was the view of a Viola Road resident who had a shocking experience on Sunday.

The resident told the Estcourt News that an electric shock was being transmitted through the taps in at her home. Fearing for the safety of her family, the resident called the emergency service centre (036 352 6464) to request assistance from the municipality’s electrical department.

“This was a severe situation and I needed efficient help but when I called the centre, I spoke to a very unprofessional person. The staff member could barely record my information.

“Even after I spelt the street name and my name and surname, he could not repeat it to me. “I was very disappointed because this is an emergency centre but the service I received does not reflect this,” said the angry resident.

Acting Municipal Manager Elphas Dladla responded to the resident’s complaint, saying that the “matter will be investigated.”

He added that the electrical department’s stand-by team attended to the complaint and advised the resident that the earth leakage needs to be replaced, which has to be attended to by a private electrician.