‘We’re tired of living in the dark’: Rosettenville residents battle 3-month power crisis
Months of power outages, crumbling infrastructure, and neglect leave community frustrated and desperate for change.
Electricity supply issues have plagued residents of Rosettenville in Johannesburg South for the past three months.
The problems stem from damaged transformers, alleged vandalism, and a lack of severe infrastructure maintenance and development.
Frustration mounts
The community’s patience is wearing thin as solutions seem nowhere in sight. Residents are struggling to cope with the persistent power outages, which is becoming increasingly dire.
Rosettenville resident Nathan Broomhuis expressed his disgust at the state of the area: “We live in a crime-ridden area. Our streets are filled with litter, and then we go to our homes, only to be greeted by darkness. I am fed up,” said Broomhuis.
Infrastructure neglect
These recurring issues have been caused by the lack of maintenance and investment in the area’s infrastructure. Vandalism has also contributed to the problem, further straining the fragile system.
Ward 56 Clr Michael Crichton outlined that infrastructure cannot keep up with population density.
“Population density in Rosettenville showcases the fact that too many homes and businesses are putting a large burden on the electricity grid, negatively impacting the community. The other obvious issue is that electricity supply infrastructure has not even been developed to cope with a small increase in population.”
Call for action
Rosettenville residents are crying out for relief. They need a comprehensive plan to address the electricity supply issues and prevent future occurrences. The community demands action to restore reliable power and ensure their safety and well-being.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena outlined the way forward in a media statement.
“City Power has already begun a maintenance effort to restore regular power supply to the areas of Rosettenville, parts of La Rochelle and Oakdene.
“The effort will be focused on maintaining the Wemmer Pan substation, which is the main supplier to those areas. Both the step-up and step-down transmission substations will all be evaluated,” said Mangena.
