Wait until Monday … This was the message to farmers along the Vivo road when they were struck by a power interruption on Sunday afternoon, 16 October.

According to Ms Estelle Kemp, who farms about 45km from Louis Trichardt along this stretch of road, the power went off at around 17:00. Being dependent on electricity for their livelihood and safety, they tried in vain to contact the Makhado Municipality’s after-hours call centre in Eltivillas, Louis Trichardt. Twenty calls later and they were still no closer to an answer.

When Kemp eventually got hold of someone at the electricity department on a different number, they were informed that the call centre staff had closed up shop and gone home. The message to them was to wait until Monday, when the municipality was open again.

The call centre staff apparently abandoned their posts out of protest with regard to overtime payment. They deserted their posts, despite the fact that the call centre is an “essential service”, meaning that, by law, the office should be manned at all times.

Municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi on Tuesday confirmed the incident.

“The call centre was left unmanned as from 16:45 on Sunday until Monday morning. We do not know the exact reasons, but we are busy investigating as to what had happened to the person who was on duty, and appropriate action will be taken, based on the findings,” Bobodi said.

As for the farmers, power supply was eventually restored by 21:30 on Sunday, although one phase was still out and was only repaired on Monday, 17 October.