ON WEDNESDAY, March 1, DA councillors were informed by EMM members that they were not invited to walk the pylon route with Eskom.
Just two weeks after the first meeting was cancelled, the meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday at 10:00, but according to Alderman Bruna Haipel, the EMM members and Eskom representatives arrived after 13:00. “They said it was because they were stopping at places on their way to Alberton. As ward councillors we came to meet them and we were turned away. We weren’t able to ask questions or hear what they were talking about,” a frustrated Haipel said.
Tiaan Kotze, ward 37 councillor, claimed that the EMM members were rude to them. “It is as if they were hiding something,” he said.
Last year Aurecon invited six residents of Alberton North to a meeting, informing them that Eskom would be making them an offer to purchase their properties, as Eskom was ready to construct a high-power transmission line right through the centre of the Alberton CBD and their properties in Alberton North.
“In view of the fact that at public participation meetings organised by Clr Haipel, held as far back as 2010 and 2011, the residents had made certain suggestions and were expecting to get feedback from Eskom, which did not materialise, the councillors and the community have been up in arms,” the councillors said.
A motion against these pylons has already been submitted by Ald Haipel to EMM.
The RECORD did ask for comment from EMM, but had received no comment at the time of going to press.
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