Residents fed up with power outages filled the Victoria Hall at Germiston Lake on July 9 to voice their grievances.

ALSO READ: CoE to meet with Germiston residents about recent power outages

MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy Senzi Sibeko addressed the audience.

 

Douglas Nelwamondo from Beyond The Future said they patrol areas like Delville where they recently apprehend suspects for theft of cables and fuses.

“We need law enforcement to support us in keeping our infrastructure safe,” he said.

“The private businesses have shown us support and backed us with resources because they are worried about their investments,” said Nelwamondo.

Nelson Egas from the Wychwood Business Forum said when there is no power, businesses and the council fail to generate an income.

“If we fail to get power that keeps our businesses operating there is going to be destruction,” said Egas.

“Most cable thefts are reported as faults. A cable fault won’t take long to repair but a 30m cable, dug out, is a different story,” he said.

“There are structures within the council that are not utilised correctly. There are early warning systems which have not been optimised as supposed to be.

“When a cable is laced with concrete it won’t be stolen again.

ALSO READ: CoE blames cable faults for Germiston power outages

“We as the community and businesses have done that.

“There must be security in our main substations,” said Egas adding that the council cannot keep replacing the same cables every week.

Nadine Walters, a resident of Sunnyridge, said most residents in her community are elderly who need electricity because their lives depend on oxygen.

“There are people with newborn babies, businesses and children who are going to school and needs power. Parents come from work and power is still not fixed,¨ said Walters.

“Most of the elderly in my community rely on their neighbours to look after them because their children have either relocated to other provinces or other countries,” she said.

“We have seen councillors and residents who were frantically trying to find oxygen tanks for residents because there was no power.

“The council is not utilising its resources enough. We are tired of staying in the dark. The council wants to charge us a levy for installing a solar system,” said Walters.

“With the petrol price skyrocketing my employer says to me to work from home.

“How I am supposed to work from home when there is no power?

“Our food goes off.

“Our appliances are damaged and no one is helping to cover our losses.

“We have used our own resources to make sure things run smoothly but for how long?

 

ALSO READ: Germiston residents hand over a list of demands

“The MMC is offering us lip service.

“The mayor hasn’t responded to any of our emails.

“There have also been instances where the wrong people were disconnected.

“We had to pay connection fees to get reconnected,” said Walters.

Maps Maponya from Elsburg said street lights in her area are not working contributing to crime.

She said cable theft has been a huge issue in her community as well.

“Our councillors don’t stay in the same areas as we are hence when we complain they cannot assist because they do not share our same frustrations,” said Maponya.

“The council only understands violence.

“Why does the community have to risk arrest to enjoy power?”

Read Campbell’s response presented at the meeting on page….