New Germany residents don’t dig fibre installation
Residents have lodged numerous complaints regarding the installation process of fibre in the New Germany area.
WHILE the installation of fibre has many breathing a sigh of relief, many residents have voiced their concerns about the water and electricity disruptions allegedly caused by the contractors.
“The fibre issue in Ward 21 has become a nightmare,” said the DA PR councillor for Ward 19 and 21, Riona Gokool. “Residents are left without water for days on end and, when the water is restored, sometimes the pressure is too high and the consequences thereof are burst water meters and issues with plumbing.”
According to the DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, Nicole Graham, the city has granted wayleave application to fibre network operators, despite no regulatory by-laws in place and no fibre network operator has been charged any amount for damages done to the municipal infrastructure of property.
“The Roads and Storm Water Department does not have sufficient internal resources to monitor the fibre installations, and is considering expanding their staff and there is no limit to how many times one area can be dug up by different contractors, meaning all 23 registered operators can technically install fibre cables on top of one another,” said Graham.
Graham noted that many areas were also not returned to their original state once the fibre was installed.
“This is despite the wayleave agreements demanding it, including natural elements like grass,” she said.
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The Highway Mail has witnessed a second contractor begin work along Erfmann Street in New Germany, mere days after the first contractor finished installing fibre lines.
The second contractor failed to set up barrier safety netting, leaving hundreds of metres of exposed trenches in the area at the weekend.
It was also highlighted that the second contractor dug alongside a boundary wall, with a trench that was no more than 10cm deep.
Mthokozi Majozi said it puzzled him that companies or individuals could dig trenches and not set up any danger tape.
“I am based in Johannesburg but New Germany is my home so I come here quite often.”
He added that someone needed to sort out the mess soon. “It is clear that there are people who are not doing their job.”
Gokool said, “Not a day goes by where I am not dealing with water or electricity issues. Sometimes the issue affects an entire road, other times it is resident specific. The contractor dug a trench outside a home in Bosse Street, damaged the water meter, did a make-shift repair and it took two days for water to be restored to that home.”
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In another incident, a water meter at a complex in Glamis Avenue was damaged and took a week to be repaired.
“The municipality is struggling to meet the demands of its ratepayers, a rates base which is already so low, and now the fibre contractors are adding to this burden,” said Gokool.
The eThekwini Municipality’s spokesman, Msawakhe Mayisela, said the laying of fibre was not a City project and various companies requested permission to install fibre cables.
“The fibre is installed by private companies but, before they start installation, they obtain authorisation/clearance from the eThekwini Municipality. They submit all required approval forms to the relevant eThekwini departments and other respective service providers. Hence, the private contractors are obligated to pay for all repairs,” he said.
Gokool urged residents to monitor the fibre installation and to report any damages to the eThekwini Municipality’s Roads and Stormwater maintenance on 031 322 7241. Alternatively, contact Riona Gokool on 072 786 2655 or via email at rionagokool@gmail.com.
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