A transformer was stripped of its copper wire during the night of Tuesday, 27 February, and was only replaced on Tuesday, 19 March in the Roodepoort area of the Bela-Bela municipality.
The transformer feeds three households in this area. As it is smallholdings the residents also rely on borehole water for their households and for the animals. Without electricity, however, they were not able to pump water and reservoirs ran dry after a day or two.
The residents had to rely on bottled water for their households and had to fetch water by tankers for the animals. More than one of the residents said that they can no longer tolerate the inability of the municipality and have installed solar panels at great cost, to alleviate the problem.
During this time their security was compromised as backup batteries for security systems cannot last 21 days.
According to one of the residents, Gregory Schoeman, the municipality was contacted numerous times, and they always had the same answer – that the transformer would be installed the next day.
“The municipality treated this whole dilemma with no compassion, and they should be held accountable for extra costs incurred,” said Schoeman.
Die Pos made inquiries on behalf of the residents on this dire matter, but at the time of going to press the municipality did not respond.
