Municipal blunders endanger residents
Open cables make residents fear for their lives.
Welverdiend residents are scared that the Merafong City Local Municipality’s electricians’ blunders might lead to more severe problems.
According to a resident, Mr Theuns de Vos, the municipality has not safely been fixing cables in this town.
On 14 Avenue near the corner of 12th Street, frayed wires stick into the air after the municipality did repairs there recently. Open wires are also visible at an electrical box on 15th Street that it recently repaired.
“If a child or pedestrian touches one of these wires, they will be electrocuted. If it rains or the wires get wet in any other way, there will be a short, and the people in the area will be without electricity again,” De Vos complains.
De Vos says he and other residents have approached the electricians about the problems, but they did not fix them.
The Herald took the issue to the municipality on Tuesday.
“When these cables were stolen in the said area, the municipality did not have the correct materials/spares for the repairs. The electrical section used the material they had at the time to restore supply as the residents were up in arms. A requisition for the correct materials has been made, and the electrical section is awaiting the supply chain to issue the supplier with an order. Once again, residents are encouraged to direct all service delivery complaints and enquiries to the municipal call centre at (018) 788 9990 or via WhatsApp at 082 516 0794,” said the acting municipal marketing and communications manager, Ms Nomonde Mahube.
