Durban, 10 February 2025 – The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZNCOGTA) MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has strongly condemned the recent attack and hijacking of an Eskom employee in Dlangubo, within the uMlalazi Local Municipality. The MEC has also expressed growing concern about the broader trend of attacks targeting essential service personnel in the province.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, subjected the Eskom employee to an eight-hour ordeal. During this time, the employee was abducted, and the work vehicle was hijacked and stripped of its parts. The employee has been left traumatised by the experience.
MEC Buthelezi emphasised the severe impact these attacks have on service delivery. “These acts of violence against essential workers, who are dedicated to serving our communities, are unacceptable and undermine our efforts to ensure reliable access to basic services like electricity and water,” said MEC Buthelezi. “When these frontline and technical staff are targeted, they are not only personally affected, but it also disrupts the vital work they do to keep the lights on and the water flowing for all residents.”
The MEC highlighted the increasing frequency of such incidents and their detrimental effect on communities. He stressed that these attacks not only endanger the lives of service personnel but also create an environment of fear that hinders their ability to carry out their duties effectively. “Our communities rely on these dedicated individuals, and we must ensure their safety so they can continue to provide these crucial services,” he added.
MEC Buthelezi made a direct appeal to residents across KwaZulu-Natal to play an active role in protecting service providers. He urged communities to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies. “We need a collective effort to address this issue,” he stated. “We urge community members to work closely with the police and local authorities to create a safer environment for those who work tirelessly to serve us.”
Issued by:
KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
• Senzelwe Mzila 082 474 1882