\u201cThe unresponsive metro left fuming residents of Ward 92 in the dark for hours recently,\u201d said Ward 92 councillor, Clr Tiziana Plaskitt.<\/p>\n
The affected areas included: Meadowdale, Buurendaal, Highway Gardens, Klopper Park and Harmelia.<\/p>
Some residents alleged that the power outage was caused by \u2018zama zamas\u2019 (illegal miners) burning tyres underneath the cables, in an attempt to steal the cables – and that led to a switch at a local substation blowing and the power outage.<\/p>\n
That continued for several days, with brief moments of relief before residents were plunged into darkness again.<\/p>
However, the cables were still damaged and at 8pm on Monday, November 21, the power went off, as a switch had blown at the substation.<\/p>\n
The power was restored at 11pm the same night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat concerns us (the DA) is that this seems to have become an annual occurrence – and for years, our DA councillors have been dealing with this issue around the same time of year,\u201d said Plaskitt.<\/p>\n
The DA has questioned why the EMPD is not protecting these cables or at least, as it’s a known weakness area, why the cables weren’t buried under the concrete to protect them?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe metro has to come up with a plan to stop this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s clear there aren’t enough workers on the ground attending to problems,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The DA has recommended that the metro invest in cable theft prevention solutions, such as a cable theft monitor or intelligent vibration sensors – which are able to detect cable defects, or potential risks or threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe implore the metro to look into solutions; to find more innovative ways to safeguard electricity infrastructure and reduce future outages,\u201d Plaskitt urged.<\/p>\n
The DA has since submitted a petition to council from the residents of Ward 92, calling for an upgrade of the infrastructure to fight the constant power outages.<\/p>\n
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