Elderly lose ‘companions’ following power surge
A power surge resulted in scores of pensioners incurring damage to appliances in Pauline Davis Court, last week.
The council-owned flats in the Benoni CBD, which consists of 140 units, experienced a power surge late last week, leaving many of the residents wondering how they will afford to replace damaged appliances.
“We were watching TV and all of a sudden the kitchen lights went off first, in other words the globe fused, but I was not actually aware of what happened,” said resident Allen Nundoo.
“Thereafter, while we were sitting and watching TV, smoke came out of the TV.”
Nundoo has had to borrow a TV set from someone else, after his was blown, along with his amplifier.
He said three light sockets, along with two wall sockets, are not working.
A resident on the first floor, who did not want to be named, told the City Times her TV and CD player blew.
“Most of us live alone and our only companions are our TV and radio,” said the resident.
“My radio is gone, my TV is gone, but everything else works.
“… Look what my place looks like, I have not even bathed, I am going into depression.
“What must we do? It is so quiet here, I can do nothing but read, and I have arthritis, I can’t even sow or knit, or do anything anymore.”
She said she could not afford to replace her TV set or CD player, as she lives on a government pension.
The City Times spoke to six residents who also sustained damage to their property, with some saying their geysers don’t work anymore.
“I go to other people to get hot water,” said Bertie Koekemoer.
Some of the residents have called on the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) to replace their damaged appliances and to ensure they are able to watch television, as a box transmitting reception to television sets was reportedly damaged in the surge.
The EMM said the problem was caused when an 11 000V substation on Harpur Avenue was broken into.
“Investigations revealed that an unknown person used force to enter into the substation which led to the theft of neutral conductors between the local power transformer and the main low voltage distribution board neutral bus-bar,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
“The theft of conductors resulted in an elevated voltage distributed which could have led to damaged on household appliances connected to the electricity at the time.”
Gadebe said damages caused by the power surge at Pauline Davis Court may be claimed against the EMM, only if it can be proven that the surge was caused “as a result of an act of negligence or omission by EMM officials”.
The municipality advised residents to report damages to their insurance companies.
Residents told the City Times their household goods are not insured as they cannot afford insurance on a state pension.
The EMM apologised for the incident.
Tenants who wish to submit claims may contact Simphiwe Khumalo at 011 999 6549 or Danisile Monyane at 011 999 6547, to request claim forms.
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