DA sheds light on power outages affecting Ward 38

by Cllr Thavha Maifala-Masebe — DA Ward 38 Councillor in Ekurhuleni

Date: 11 September 2023

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

Following weeks where residents of Brackenhurst and Brackendowns endured more than 24 hours without electricity, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ward 38 welcomes the report by the Alberton Chief Engineer, in gaining an understanding of what the issues have been.

In response to questions raised by the DA, it was confirmed that the power outage that affected several homes over the weekend of 18 and 19 August 2023 was due to cable faults affecting Amatole substation, stolen equipment, cable fault affecting Brackenhurst X2, cable fault between Eekhooring and Andries Substation affecting Brackendowns X5.

The Department of Energy has indicated to the DA that the main issue was the number of faults that had to be attended to with minimum staff during the weekend. Furthermore, the report also indicates that overtime is limited to 40 hours per month for one person and because the department’s technicians are trying to be available throughout the month, the department has arranged the times such that in one-day minimum overtime is worked.

It is the view of the DA that, although the operations may make sense in terms of managing resources as far as overtime is concerned, this leaves residents in the dark for more hours than is necessary. With this in mind, the DA believes that the city needs to look at ways to address the issue of staffing in order to adequately address service delivery turnaround times.

The DA welcomes the commitment from the department to communicate better as far as responses given to councillors are concerned. We also consider that during a power outage the department has limited staff members available, therefore communication is likely to be negatively affected.

Given the responses from the Alberton Depot, the DA believes that under the EFF-ANC-led coalition of corruption, the functionality of departments is taking a back seat. While professionals are committed to getting things done, they are tied by webs of corruption and poor governance under the EFF MMC, Cllr Leshaka Manamela.

The DA will continue to implore the city to fill funded vacancies within the Energy Department as this department offers a critical service to the residents.

Cllr. Thavha Maifala-Masebe

DA Ward 38 Councillor in Ekurhuleni

0615404973