Councilor Asaf Kgobata from ward 16 was threatened and attacked by residents from Mapetla extension in Soweto.
The councilor received an anonymous call on Monday warning him that community members are planning to attack him at his home. When Kgobata received the anonymous tip he was driving back from North West attending family matters, however, when the residents arrived at his Mapetla extension home his niece who has a 2 months old baby were already being harassed and threatened by community members.
Gauteng News is informed that the residents of Mapetla extension not having electricity for the last 2 months spark the motive behind the attack and threats.
Councilor Kgobata spoke to Gauteng News.
“I had a public meeting with the community members in regards to the current situation and I even attended meetings with Eskom at midway with other community members, they know I have been trying my best and running up and down for them to have a solution with this current problem. The problem is we councilors are not spokespersons of Eskom and when people experience load shedding they attack us and not Eskom”.
Asaf has not opened a case against the culprits who tried to damage his electricity box but damaged most of his property outside his yard.
He adds that he will open a case when he has evidence and names of the people who threatened his family and damaged some of his property.
“I will be opening a case against them and I don’t plan to give up without a fight. They cannot attack me for Eskom because the company itself is its on entity and I don’t represent Eskom, I have been contacting the people from Eskom but they never respond to my messages. Every time when I try to call them they are attending a meeting”.
However, Mapetla East recently received electricity after a year not having power at the area. Mapetla extension remains without power until they meet Eskom on 12 September for audit meeting. “Eskom informed us they will audit the affect power boxes in Mapetla and they will come investigate the problem and provide technicians who will fix the problem”, said Councilor Kgobata.
Kgobata informed Gauteng News that the power cuts are not caused by load shedding but by illegal connections around the area. Residents tried to fix the power box in Mapetla extension but it ended up burning down. Gauteng News tried to get comment from the Provincial spokesperson of Eskom but we couldn’t reach them.
