Alberton North family succumbs to electric blows for years
The City of Ekurhuleni has promised to intervene after an Alberton North family has for years been plagued by power surges, leading to electric shocks.
An Alberton North family has for years been feeling an electric shock whenever they need to shower or when washing dishes.
This is a result of a power surge leading to electric shocks which are said to have been going from bad to worse over the years.
It was after a motorist, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, who had lost control of his vehicle and ploughed into the main electrical box at the corner of Piet Retief Street and 6th Avenue.
At the time of the accident, in 2018, they reported the incident to the energy department to inspect and fix the box which had been wrecked.
According to Yolanda Engelbrecht, the electric box was not removed but simply pushed upright again in what appeared to be the correct position.
“Ever since that evening, we have had this current surge problem on our property. I have my elderly parents staying with me and both are really feeling the current when they need to shower, not to mention when they wash dishes. In the main house it is also felt in the showers and basins. At times when switching on the pool pump it sometimes shocks,” she said.
Engelbrecht told the RECORD she has escalated the problem to the City’s department in person on numerous occasions.
She said she is highly concerned with the fact that the electrical current is at times extremely strong and is permanently felt. She has also had to dig deep into her pockets after having dispatched a private electrician to look into the problem.
“The department too had performed several tests yet this has not improved the situation. Even though the City engineer had confirmed that the electrical current was coming from the outside of my property from the main power supply at the time,” explained Engelbrecht.
She reiterated that she reported the problem to the CoE in 2018 and 2019 numerous times and just recently, yet it is still not resolved.
CoE’s intervention
City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini assured that the CoE will investigate the complaint.
He urged residents to log new incident complaints for calls deemed to be unresolved but closed on the system.
“The City introduced a new complaint management system, Instructional Management System (IMS) in July 2021 that replaced the previous system. 2018 complaints are no longer accessible to the City and we cannot find details of originally logged complaints on the electronic database,” said Dlamini.
The City has since promised that it will ensure supply on the municipal side of the service connection is in order and will advise the complainant of findings.
“Many factors may cause high voltage. Theft of neutral conductors and earthing conductors creates high or low voltage conditions. Cable damage or even fault on consumer installation can also contribute to similar electrical problems as described,” he said.
Calls can be logged telephonically on 086 054 3000 or via the My CoE App.
