Love your kidneys
In light of World Kidney Day which was commemorated recently, the Ekurhuleni metro urges residents to be kind to their kidneys by adopting a low-salt-intake lifestyle as salt has proven to have negative effects on kidneys.
The recommended daily salt intake limit is five grams.
The metro’s manager for non-communicable diseases, Angie Ndhambi, advised that the sodium in salt can build up in your body, causing your blood pressure to rise and increasing damage to your kidneys.
“A high salt intake increases the amount of protein in the urine, which is a major risk factor for the decline of kidney function.
“Salt also worsens kidney condition in people who already have kidney diseases.”
Ndhambi further advised that the five grams of salt intake per day can be achieved by refraining from adding raw salt to cooked food, using herbs, spices, garlic, chilies or lemon to season food instead of salt and staying away from fried chicken as they have large quantities of salt.
Ekurhuleni residents are strongly urged to take action in fighting non-communicable diseases and to visit their nearest primary health-care facilities across Ekurhuleni for screening.
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Curbing electricity theft
The metro’s meter management system, which is used to detected potential electricity theft, has flagged 98 customers in Alra Park Extension 2 and Ceruitville in Nigel for not buying electricity in the last three months.
The metro will apply the sanctions below, in line with the standard procedure, as per metro’s policy:
• Disconnection of supply, as a result of meter tampering.
• A reinstatement fee will be issued, this being R2 958 plus VAT.
This fee is payable in full before the supply will be restored.
• Back-billing will be effected, for a period of up to 36 months.
This amount often approaches a value of R30 000 and more.
• The meter will continue to be audited, and any further attempts to tamper with the installation will be met with more disconnections and reinstatement fees, also arrest and criminal prosecution.
• As a last resort, the electricity supply may be removed altogether.
The metro’s spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, said during the meter boxes auditing process conducted, it was established that several prepaid meters were tampered with, either to connect electricity illegally or to steal some electrical components inside the main municipal supply meter boxes.
“For this specific area only, the metro loses 30 per cent of the electricity supplied, estimated to cause a loss above R100 000 per month.”
Gadebe added that these criminal activities then lead to damages on the electrical equipment and network failure due to overloading and faulty connections.
The metro cautions residents from tampering with the meter boxes or face the consequences.
“To deal with the electricity theft, the metro is installing protective components on its meter boxes.
“This includes installation of pole-mount, protective structures with a remotely controlled locking mechanism,” he said.
The replacing and repairing of vandalised meter boxes will commence at the end of March 2020 and will be completed by June 2020.
Limited burial space
Phumlani Cemetery in Etwatwa was closed on February 29 due to the non-availability of burial space for the first interment.
However, the cemetery remains ready for the second, in appropriate circumstances, third interment.
Themba Gadebe, the metro’s spokesperson, said cemeteries in the metro are approaching full capacity for new burials, with just 30 per cent of the vacant burial space remaining across the metro.
“Residents are encouraged to consider other options to save burial space, such as second and third interment following the metro’s Cemetery and Crematorium by-laws.
“The by-laws make provision for multiple interments in one grave on condition that an application has been made to the cemetery office and written permission has been granted.”
He added that families who have arranged reserved graves can still bury on those spaces only if they can produce proof of reserved graves to cemetery officials.
The metro has reserved a small portion of land at the Phumlani Cemetery for the burial of indigents and paupers only.
“Residents in the Etwatwa area can utilise nearby cemeteries, such as Lala Ngoxolo Cemetery in Crystal Park and Springs Sub Regional cemetery in Petersfield,” said Gadebe.
Residents can still visit Phumlani Cemetery offices, as the office is still operational.
Alternatively, for more information, contact Harriet Bless on 011 999 9288.
