The move also follows a series of armed attacks in Emfuleni on ELM personnel and service providers such as BXC in recent weeks, with one senior municipality manager being shot and wounded.

The on-line verification process is the latest step by BXC to improve community and business safety as their social responsibility wherever they operate – initially in Three Rivers, Vereeniging, but soon BXC will start operations in Vanderbijlpark .

BXC has already fixed more than 200 street lights in Extension One in Three Rivers,  thus making a major difference to the safety of residents and businesses in an area dominated after nightfall by criminal elements.

Moving quickly after first warning the public about the staff impersonation threat, BXC has now established a web page to by name, visual and telephonic means verify its staff – and has urged the public to use the facility to prevent attacks.

BXC says the public must use the new staff verification tool first before allowing any staff into your home or business. But also always demand to see the BXC identification tag carried by all such staff before allowing entry even after on-line verification, BXC has urged.

You can now verify BXC staff members by name and photograph after going to https://bxcsa.co.za/global

Click on VERIFY TEAM MEMBERS to see if the person or persons claiming to be BXC staff members needing access to your home or business to reactivate or install smart meters are legitimate and genuine.

The names and colour photographs of all BXC personnel involved in reactivating or installing smart meters can be seen, as well as telephone numbers to call in for the same purpose or to check whether a claimed visit is legitimate or scheduled.

Call BXC offices at 016 100 6170 during office hours. Call 063 676 0397 after hours.

“We need your cooperation not only to bring light and power to you, but also to improve your safety when we implement service delivery,” said BXC Project Manager Dawid Dirks.