Eskom employee found safe after kidnapping ordeal

An Eskom employee has been found safe following a kidnapping ordeal.

The staffer was released this week, at a location south of Johannesburg, after he was kidnapped on 16 March.

The crumbling parastatal has condemned the abduction of the employee.

Kidnapping

Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said the employee is recovering from his ordeal.

“The employee’s car was shot at multiple times, and the employee was forcefully taken by seven assailants. He was later released at a location in the south of Johannesburg and had to be admitted to hospital as a result of injuries sustained from being assaulted by the attackers.”

“The matter is now subject to police investigation,” Mokwena said.

Sympathies

She added that Calib Cassim, the acting group chief executive, conveyed his sympathies to the employee and his family for the trauma they went through.

“Eskom condemns such brutal acts and will under no circumstances, tolerate any attacks on its staff members and their families by anyone. Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the nearest police station or SMS the Crime Line on 32211,” Mokwena said.

Eskom did not indicate the motive for the employee’s kidnapping.

Eskom also wouldn’t confirm the level of seniority of the employee.

ALSO READ: Kidnapping syndicate targeting LGBTQ community in Gauteng nabbed

Load shedding

Meanwhile, Eskom has announced that stage 1 load shedding will be implemented from 5am until 4pm on Wednesday and stage 2 load shedding from 4pm until 5am until further notice.

Mokwena warned that the outlook could change.

“Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.”

Generation capacity

Mokwena added that there was an improvement in generating capacity.

“Over the past 24 hours, three generation units were returned to service at Duvha, Kendal and Kriel power stations. In the same period, a generating unit at Kendal, Kriel and Majuba power stations were taken offline for repairs.

“The delays in returning units to service at Duvha, Hendrina, Kriel, Majuba, Medupi and Tutuka power stations continue,” she said.

ALSO READ: Load shedding: This is the outlook until Wednesday