Missing cable causes days of darkness
JOBURG NORTH - A Joburg North household was in the dark for five days because a workman allegedly made off with a cable from their power box.
According to Chris Santana, councillor for Ward 115, the residents logged a cable fault on 4 December.
The repair work was delegated to a City Power contractor who in turn sent out an employee to repair the fault. Santana said records show that the employee did come to the residence and later logged the issue as resolved, stating that he had replaced a copper wire in the power box.
However, the issue had not been resolved and the household was still without electricity.
The residents contacted Santana, who escalated the issue, and on 9 December he managed to get the contractor to the site. Together with the owner of the contracting company, Santana also managed to locate the employee who was meant to repair the fault.
The actual repair work took the contractor’s team only 20 minutes to complete. The owner of the contracting company, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the employee in question has, as of 9 December, been dismissed by the company and will be taken to risk management, after which he hopes a case of theft will be opened.
Santana said he has requested a full report from the owner of the company and if the employee is not arrested, he will ask questions about the incident in council. He added that if residents of Ward 115 have issues that they are not happy with, they should contact him immediately.
Sol Masolo, spokesperson for City Power, said the management of the contracting company is responsible for the fate of the worker who allegedly stole the cable but City Power is happy that the contractor is taking action.
Details: 082 416 7714; csantana@ward115.co.za
