eMBALENHLE – The electricity upgrades project aimed at solving the electricity crisis in eMbalenhle continues.
Locals are still facing constant unbearable power interruptions in the area which affect their lives negatively, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Learners and students have been complaining about the struggle to do schoolwork online, because when the power is off, it becomes a struggling to connect to the internet.
This has led to protests and locals voicing their lack of confidence in the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Reports surfaced that in certain Wards, locals held councillors and their children hostage, demanding answers regarding the power cuts.
Ward 4 residents formed a committee and held a meeting with the Ward councillor, Ms Thandi Mnisi, and Mr Elijah Mkhombe, manager of GMM’s energy department.
The committee was taken to the Extension 5 substation where they were shown how the station operates.
Mr Mkhombe explained to the community that the municipal rotational load shedding is implemented, because the switching stations have exceeded their Notified Maximum Demand (NMD).
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He said the load shedding is being implemented to deal with the existing shortage of capacity of about 10MVA during peak hours.
Mr Mkhombe urged the committed to also educate the community that, if the municipal rotational load shedding is stopped, it could lead to a serious problem.
The committee also complained that the schedule is not constant and fair.
Ms Mnisi said: “I arranged the meeting so that you can see how things work.
“We understand the pressure that the community is under, but attacking our children is not fair.
“I am happy you are here and you see how things work, please do not attack our families.”
Mr Mkhombe also informed the residents that the appointed service provider, Bigen Afrika, is about to conclude the upgrades.
Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, recently apologised to the residents for the inconvenience caused by the power interruptions and said the municipality is working around the clock to address power issues in the area.
She said the municipality is struggling with revenue generation due a huge number of consumers, including businesses in Govan Mbeki Municipality, who are not paying for the services being rendered to them.
She said the municipality will now name and shame all businesses that owe the municipality millions in unpaid bills.
Mr Ngxonono said positive meetings are continually taking place with Eskom in order to arrive at a workable solution for this particular challenge.
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