Eskom warns of dangers associated with climbing on its infrastructure to attach election posters. Image: Flickr.
Eskom is asking political parties to avoid attaching election posters on electrical infrastructure to prevent injury or loss of lives.
Eskom warns of dangers associated with climbing on its infrastructure to attach election posters. Image: Flickr.
Eskom says it is illegal to put up election posters on its structures, which threatens life.
South Africa is heading to the polls on 29 May, and political parties are putting up posters nationwide for their campaigns.
Eskom said in the past, there had been incidents where people were electrocuted and shocked when putting up election posters, and this includes electricity poles, electricity towers, metre boxes, and mini substations.
The power utility said electricity is invisible to the naked eye, and the risk is that when someone gets close to or touches them, it may result in an inadvertent flash-over or electrical contact. Subsequently, this can cause severe injuries to the person or even be fatal.
Furthermore, Eskom emphasised that only authorised personnel can climb or work on the aforementioned electrical structures.
“Attaching posters to an electrical structure is not only a contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) but also puts the lives of your valuable employees, members of the public and volunteers at risk,” the power utility further warned.
Following the finalisation of the candidate lists, the Electoral Commission said it ready to proceed with the printing of ballot papers for the elections.
As previously reported by The South African, there will be three ballot papers a voter will get on voting day: