A SUCCESSION of power outages and burst pipes in Glenwood and Umbilo, prompted Ward 33 councillor Mmabatho Tembe to appeal to the City Manager, Deputy City Manager and department heads for clarification as to the cause and to ask for urgent intervention by the City.
Regarding the issue of power outages, which have become an almost daily occurrence in the area, Tembe questioned when the power station at the intersection of Bulwer and Clark Roads would be operational.
“I also queried how often the substations in the area were being maintained as the main reason for outages is MV cable faults,” she said.
The response from the Municipality was disappointing.
Tembe said she was informed that it would take another three years before the power station was functional.
“I have been told there is enough power supply in the area already, and the power station was not built to aid capacity. It will also not curb the power outages in the area as these are due to cable faults in individual substations,” she said, adding that she was yet to receive a response to her question as to why it would take a further three years for the power station to be energised.
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With regard to the regular water pipe bursts, Tembe questioned when last the water pipes in Glenwood and Umbilo had been maintained and with the infrastructure being so old, when they would be replaced.
“I queried what the plan for the area is when a pipe bursts more than twice in a same place or nearby, such as in Elgie Road. Water tankers take a long time to get to residents as well, and I asked if this issue could be escalated so water reaches the people affected,” she said.
Tembe said she had spoken to some contractors who had been fixing the pipes in the area, and all of them had said aging infrastructure was the main cause.
“A full investigation and report is needed,” she said.
Responding to these questions, representatives from eThekwini Municipality said they would look into the water issues she had raised.
They said bursts could be as a result of network day and night pressures, surges in the system, aging pipes, valve control or superimposed load and it was necessary to deal with the real cause rather than symptoms. “We will provide a clear plan once the necessary investigation has been completed,” they said.
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