Protesters gather in Marina Beach to demand Eskom customer service office
DA councillor Stephanie Breedt said an office with personnel is urgently needed to help with electricity issues in Port Edward and surrounding areas.
DA members picketed outside the Marina Beach Eskom offices recently. Councillor for Ward 1, Stephanie Breedt, said the gathering was to make a statement to Eskom to get their attention.
According to Breedt, there is urgent need for a customer service office to help with electricity-related issues in Port Edward and surrounding areas.
She said that it is too far for residents to drive to Margate to get help, and some people have to travel by taxi.
“We do use the Alfred chatbot, but it’s not helpful, we need to go to an office where we can talk to someone to report to and advise us.”
Port Edward resident Paula Deacon said the area had no electricity for about 14 days.
“We had no power due to cable theft. We used the Alfred chatbot, but it was not helpful, so we eventually had to ask the councillor (Breedt) to help us escalate the matter.”
Deacon said it puts them at high risk because when there is no power for so long the alarm system does not work, and they also have to spend money on fuel to run a generator, but still receive a high Eskom bill.
Kim Rehbock from Leisure Bay said she paid a lot of money to change to a prepaid meter, but still has problems.
Meanwhile, Louis Theron of Glenmore said he received his Eskom account and he was billed double the amount, and he has no idea how to get help because there is no office nearby.
“I have worked out my meter reading and that’s how I know they have doubled my bill. I have also never seen anyone from Eskom coming to read my meter.”
Breedt also added that as councillors it is difficult on them because when residents cannot get hold of Eskom, they end up passing their frustrations on to them.
“We are treated as an informal Eskom customer care service. I end up being a communication person between Eskom and people. I am a ward councillor I am meant to look after Ray Nkonyeni problems, but I spend a lot of my time doing Eskom work and I am not only speaking for myself but other ward councillors as well.”
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