The Ekurhuleni municipality has urged residents to stop violent attacks against energy officials responding to power outages.

A growing trend of attacks on Ekurhuleni technicians who tend to power outages on the East Rand in Gauteng, have resulted in them having to be accompanied by police and security officers when they are called out.

The City of Ekhuruleni Metropolitan Municipality says supply interruptions are often brought on by Eskom’s load-shedding, whereafter technicians are called out to restore power.

In several incidents, Eskom personnel were held up by robbers at substations and looted of their work tools and personal possessions.

The municipality warns the attacks will delay the restoration of power in implicated areas.

Ekurhuleni metro police and security guards have been tasked with watching over working technicians and defending city infrastructure.

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