Many Germiston residents were once again left in the dark, last week.
The metro told the GCN that a number of cables had burnt during an attempted cable theft at the Germiston Extension Eight substation, last Sunday afternoon, plunging residents and businesses into darkness until late the next night.
Areas affected were Germiston South Extensions Two, Four, Seven, Eight and Nine; Germiston Extensions Three and 10; Tedstoneville Extension One; Dukathole Clinic and a portion of Georgetown and the Germiston CBD.
On Monday, August 3, residents and businesses in Palm Ridge were also left without power due to a faulty transformer at the Sefakabolea substation which feeds power to the whole of Palm Ridge.
Tedstoneville residents are fed up with the constant electricity problems in the area.
Joanne Marchant said, “When we contact the call taking centre with regard to power problems in the area they can never give us a straight answer as to what is causing the problem.
“Every time the power goes off we are always told it is due to cable theft, a faulty transformer of substation, it is never-ending.
“It is always excuses when it comes to the municipality but when they send us bills we must pay without excuses.”
Another resident told the GCN he is tired of rotten food and broken appliances due to the constant power outages in the area.
“My TV is broken due to the latest power outage,” he said.
“What is going on at the metro that our power in Tedstoneville keeps going on and off the whole time?”
Paul Willemburg, MPL DA Gauteng constituency head for Germiston, said the intermittent power outages in Tedstoneville are causing a strain on residents.
“The outages come in addition to Eskom’s regular load shedding schedule, causing further unanticipated expenses as food degrades,” he said.
“The DA is mindful of the national electricity crisis, but Ekurhuleni can at the very least ensure that infrastructure is maintained and that residents have a steady supply when not being load shed.
“Residents and local DA councillors are becoming increasingly frustrated by the metro’s customer care centre’s slack approach to handling complaints and queries, and its seeming inability to provide answers and responses on this matter.
“I have requested Gauteng premier David Makhura to intervene, and I will continue to monitor the situation to ensure Tedstoneville residents’ grievances are addressed fairly.”
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