Pe indaba 21 05 2014

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Editor: Bettie Giliomee

Metro’s power struggle intensifies REPORTER

sands of rand.

HE Municipality has its hands full with electricity problems all over the metro, from Eskom warning of possible load shedding this winter to protests over their disconnection of illegal connections and the vandalism of their substations costing them hundreds and thou-

According to a statement by municipal spokesperson, Kupido Baron, in the past week alone at least 14 substations were vandalised with an estimated repair cost of at least R50 000 per sub-station. In the latest incident connected to vandalism and illegal connections, the charred body of a

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man believed to be a cable thief was found on Monday morning in the Miltonia electricity sub-station in Malabar. Municipal spokesperson, Kupido Baron said when the Fire and Emergency officials responded to a report of a fire at the sub-station in Burness Street, they noticed forced entry to the facility and suspected that someone could still be inside.

Gogos and mkhulus strutt their stuff

KwaNobuhle based NPO, the Mothers’s Gift will present a modelling show with a twist at the Love­life Centre on Friday, May 30. Gogos and mkhulus from the community have been asked to play model at the event. Ready to strut their stuff are, from left, Tewu Jali, Mother’s Gift head Mama Sheila Isaacs, Nolundi Njokweni, Lulama Tukani and Evelyn Bartmaan. PHOTO:NCEBA DLADLA

“This was confirmed when tools, to gain entry to the facility and force the cover of one of the transformers open, were found inside. The man was discovered by two officials from the Electricity and Energy Directorate,” he said. Baron said they believed that the unidentified man gained entry to the sub-station, forced a transformer open and used a saw to cut through the live 11 000 volt cables. An average house uses 230 volts. The South African Police Services opened an inquest docket and owing to the vandalism repairs are required to the sub-station. The power supply to some streets surrounding the sub-station was expected to be interrupted until today. Another headache for the municipality is the problem of illegal electrical connections in the townships. Protest broke out in Walmer last week after the municipality started disconnecting illegal connections. According to municipal spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, they intend disconnecting more of these illegal electricity connections in the coming weeks with Kleinskool and Joe Slovo townships next on the list. “We cannot condone the use of illegal cables. The municipality provides electricity for all and we even install connections in shacks around the Bay. There is no excuse for illegal cables,” he said. Portfolio Chair for Electricity and Energy, Councillor Andile Mfunda, said this financial year alone illegal cables had cost the municipality over R90 million. Mfunda said they condemned the use of illegal cables but considering the unrest in communities they needed to have creative ways of dealing with issues of this nature. Baron warned cable thieves that “all electricity installations are extremely dangerous and should be considered as live and must not be tampered with.”


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Pe indaba 21 05 2014 by PE Express - Issuu