The stealing of pylon components was an indication of the level of poverty Ekurhuleni Metro was facing.
Mondli Gungubele, Ekurhuleni mayor responded on last Wednesday’s planned 12-hour power outage to repair high mast pylons at last Thursday’s metro council meeting in Germiston.
He said the persons stealing parts of the pylons could sell that for about R1 000, but caused millions of Rands’ damage to the power system.
“Springsites had to brave one of the coldest weekends because of criminals stealing Eskom gear.
“Considering that we are now in the heart of winter, it is certainly not the right time for our people to experience power outages.”
He said this power outage did not happen because the metro did not do their work.
“Many situations are beyond our control.”
He also requested residents to use electricity sparingly and help the metro fight illegal connections to avoid load-shedding and the overload of the electricity grid.
On Wednesday morning the sound of house alarms was the only indication that the power went off shortly after 6am.
In what was planned to be from 6am to 6pm, the electricity was eventually back on shortly after 1pm.
Springs was almost totally without electricity.
The areas of Springs without power was indicated by the traffic lights that were off.
On the Paul Kruger Highway it was off from Presidentsdam
Towards Brakpan it was off until the western boundaries of Springs.
The traffic lights in the north were off at Bakerton and in the south, up to the Opperheimer Circle in Nigel Road.
Some businesses in the central business district (CBD), as well as hospitals, the police and courts had generators, while others were open with limited light inside.
Banks and food suppliers were closed.
The CBD was very quiet, as it seemed that customers also stayed away.
Some residents of Springs reacted on Facebook.
Elmarie Louw was feeling sorry for the patients in the hospitals.
Matt Stern felt it had to be sorted out.
“When I was in IT and if the systems went down, you get fired and we sit without electricity, and we must just live with it,” he said.
Marko Miladinovic said he hoped that the people that had stolen the pylon parts were arrested and charged with terrorism and sabotage.
“They should also charge all ATM bombers in the same way,” he said.
One of the central business district hair salons had this on its closed front door.
