{"id":219319,"date":"2019-10-03T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/219319\/power-problems-persist\/"},"modified":"2019-10-03T13:25:39","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T11:25:39","slug":"power-problems-persist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/10\/03\/power-problems-persist\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Germiston power supply anything but stable\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another week, another power failure in a Germiston suburb.<\/p>\n

This has become the norm for Germiston, with some of these outages sometimes lasting for days at a time.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

From Germiston CBD, Meadowbrook, Wilbart, Solheim, Symhurst, Sunnyridge, Gerdview, Homestead, Marlands, Primrose, Fishers\u2019 Hill, Sunnyrock, Dawnview, Meadowdale, Primrose East, Albemarle, Dinwiddie, Castleview, Wadeville, Mimosa Park, Hazel Park, Lambton, Hazeldene, Leondale, Elspark and Elsburg to name a few, there seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing outages that disrupt the daily lives of the city\u2019s residents.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Family confined to their home as five-year long sewage leak continues to flow<\/a><\/h4>\n

The GCN follows up on each complaint and outage even when our own offices are also plunged into darkness.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

On Thursday Nhlanhla Cebekhulu, divisional head for the metro\u2019s communication and media relations department responded to the GCN\u2019s queries on the stability of Germiston\u2019s power system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe supply is stable,\u201d said Cebekhulu.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe metro does refurbish and maintain the network whenever necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman interference in the supply of electricity is a huge concern and cable theft and theft of electricity infrastructure is a societal problem that everyone must play a role in rooting out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have invested in technological systems that will alert us whenever there is tampering or theft of our electricity components.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan this statement couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan feels the Germiston power supply is anything but stable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe only thing that is stable is that there is an outage everyday somewhere in Germiston,\u201d said Morgan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am glad to hear that the metro is putting security measures in place to alert authorities to tampering, but my huge concern is the turnaround time for repairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBusinesses are left for days or even weeks without power.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do we expect to grow an economy in this way?<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents are also left for days without power.\u201d<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0\u00a0Power woes continue for Germiston residents<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Another concern for Morgan, and a sentiment shared by many community members, is the metro\u2019s call-taking centre.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe metro\u2019s call-taking centre is a nightmare for residents,\u201d said Morgan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the call does get answered and it\u2019s a follow-up query the call centre personnel do not have feedback or a reason for an area outage and therefore they give standard answers.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunication really needs to be worked on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lornette Joseph LamDel Residents Association (RA) chairperson shared her thoughts on the metro\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to know which parts of Germiston has a stable power supply,\u201d Joseph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps the system has been more stable than it has been, but there are still a number of areas that have power issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not just about the metro fixing major issues; regular maintenance must be undertaken.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe a specialised team needs to be considered, one that will go around tightening lines, inspecting trees, laying cables and such things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s residents, at their wits\u2019 end, shared their frustration with the GCN.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis situation is getting out of control.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is not a week that goes by that our power is not off in Mimosa Park and Klippoortje,\u201d said Janet Greyling.<\/p>\n

Ester de Lange also shared her sentiments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is happening more and more and for longer and longer periods of time,\u201d de Lange said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you phone the metro\u2019s call centre, they don\u2019t even bother to answer the phones.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraffic lights are not working and street lights are not working.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is working in Ekurhuleni?\u201d<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0<\/strong>New solution to overcoming power outages<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Marlene Zwarts questioned why solutions couldn\u2019t be found.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t the problems be fixed?\u201d said Zwarts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you have people in a call centre that can’t give you accurate information and why are they so rude to put the phone down in your ear?\u201d<\/p>\n

One Elspark resident, who did not wish to be named, claimed she was told the outages were caused by vandalism of the power system.<\/p>\n

The GCN followed-up on the claims.<\/p>\n

Const Daphney Phooko, communications officer for the Elsburg police confirmed a case of theft was open at the Niemand Substation recently.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing the theft a security guard was placed on site,\u201d Phooko said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe community is encouraged to report any suspicious activities around substations to their nearest police station.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Also follow us on:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n