With the spate of protests rocking the South African town of Tembisa, the utility company Eskom has decided to withdraw its services from the city.
Violent protests erupted in the area recently, forcing the company to issue a statement about it on Twitter while also stating its position. In a tweet on its official Twitter channel, the company noted it was withdrawing its services from the town as a result of the protest.
It had to make the decision because it was unsure about the safety of its staff. It stated it would only resume service when it is safe for its staff to continue working in the town.
The tweet elicited mixed reactions from social media users. Some applauded Eskom for the decision, while some railed at the company, noting that withdrawing its services from the town will further frustrate residents and heighten tension.
With tempers still flaring, it’s unclear when Eskom will restore services in Tembisa. A series of violent protests had broken out in the town over what residents describe as “terrible” service delivery. In the heat of it all, over 30 vehicles have been touched and about four persons killed. Several businesses have also been looted in the area.
