Residents of Welverdiend and Carletonville, among other places, were furious when they had to wait for more than a day for electricians of the Merafong City Local Munici- pality to drive to substations and repair the theft and cable faults.
“This is unacceptable. We need a press release on why Merafong could not restore the power after the power cable burnt last night. There were numerous requests for assistance.
“We have elderly people who struggle financially,” one of the affected Welverdiend residents, Mrs Letitia Janse van Vuuren, lamented on Sunday night.
Although the municipality did not respond to related questions on Tuesday, it has often used a shortage of resources and money as excuses for not delivering the necessary services in the past.
Meanwhile, however, residents around Kiepersol Avenue in Fochville allege that an employee in the electrical department has been using a municipal bakkie as a company vehicle for some time.
The registration number is DJ 59 TS GP.
“The vehicle is parked outside her house during office hours every day, while maintenance and extensions are being done to her home,” an upset ratepayer from this area complained.
“We are all aware of the service delivery challenges in all levels of government, but I believe we can find practical solutions if the current resources are properly managed.”
The Herald did random double-checks to see when the vehicle was parked at the employee’s house.
At approximately 11:00 on 6 May, at 12:40 and 14:39 on Friday and Monday afternoon, the bakkie was on the sidewalk in front of the employee’s house.
Upset residents also took photos of the bakkie on the sidewalk during office hours on 26 April, 6 May and at 09:25 on Tuesday, when it was at least parked in the employee’s yard.
“Seen in the light of the total lack of maintenance on electrical infrastructure like street lights, which are on during the day and off at night, one cannot understand why the municipality allows personnel to misuse its time and resources like this,” another resident also complains.
Since municipal vehicles are equipped with tracker systems, residents feel that these reports can be drawn to get an idea of the full extent of the problem.
The Herald asked the municipality about the matter on Tuesday.
“The employee in question does work for the electrical department. The matter will be investigated and dealt with by the relevant department,” the municipal spokesperson answered.
