Tempers flare over pylons
The meeting has been postponed indefinitely, while the EMM decides how to inform the public about it.
IRATE members of the public made their annoyance known at a public meeting on Friday evening, March 3, where the erection of pylons through Alberton was discussed.
Tempers flared during the meeting at the Alberton Civic Centre. Residents were clearly opposed to the idea of pylons running through the town centre, and made this known to the EMM members present at the meeting.
These pylons are electricity-carrying towers which are to run from Mpumalanga to the South of Johannesburg by 2018.
According to the EMM, these are necessary to prevent increasing power shortages in the area. The pylons will carry around 800kV, which is enough to supply power to the entire Western Cape.
Members of the public are concerned about the aesthetic and health implications associated with these structures.
Dino Peterson, EMM chairperson of infrastructure, had little chance to talk while other members expressed their fury due to many unanswered questions.
Some members who were present, including council member Beverley Small and Alderman Bruna Haipel, claimed that neither Friday night’s meeting nor the planned erection of the pylons was properly advertised to the public.
The EMM, however, disagreed and presented evidence of a small advertisement which was placed in the RECORD back in 2009. Angry members regarded this as an “excuse for an advertisement”.
One member of the public was so angry, he stood up and bluntly suggested that Peterson resign. He further said the EMM “occupies itself with autocracy”.
Loads of applause followed, as well as even more angry statements. This carried on until a mutual decision was made to postpone the meeting until further notice.
The meeting has been postponed indefinitely while the EMM decides how to inform the public about it. In the meantime, members of the public are encouraged to read about these pylon structures and have their say when the meeting eventually takes place.
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