Wychwood and Malvern East residents take action to secure substation
The community has taken matters into its own hands to secure the substation, which has been plagued by frequent outages due to water damage and lack of maintenance.
Residents of Wychwood and Malvern East are tired of the power outages they have been experiencing since August.
They have reported the matter to the City of Ekurhuleni with no solution in sight.
The community has taken matters into its own hands to secure the substation, which has been plagued by frequent outages due to water damage and lack of maintenance.
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Frustrated by ongoing power cuts that have disrupted daily life, they have stepped in to prevent further damage and are now planning additional security measures, including fencing off the site.
“The substation was getting flooded because maintenance had not been done in a while.
“Overgrown grass was blocking the flow of water, and with the rainy season, it became increasingly frustrating for us. We had to take action as residents and clean up,” said Janet Gerretsen.
For months, the substation has been a weak point in the area’s power supply, as heavy rains and poor drainage have led to water seeping into it.
This has resulted in residents enduring long periods without electricity, affecting businesses, schools, and homes.
Residents worked together to drain the water and put up temporary barriers to prevent further flooding.
Some even donated materials to reinforce the structure.
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Now, they are organising a project to fence off the substation, aiming to protect it from both weather-related damage and potential vandalism.
“We need to take care of our infrastructure because power outages disrupt our lives,” said Gerretsen.
Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan said the challenges at the Wychwood substation have been a long-standing issue.
“The power cuts have had a ripple effect on the local economy and daily life. Businesses relying on electricity for refrigeration, production, and customer service have suffered losses,” said Morgan.
Despite these challenges, she noted that the community’s initiative has sparked a sense of unity.
“The residents have come together to find solutions. I hope the authorities will step in to collaborate with them on long-term solutions,” said Morgan.
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While residents are making a difference, they emphasise the need for the city and energy officials to address the issues at the Wychwood substation.
“Improved drainage, proper maintenance, and permanent flood prevention measures are critical to ensuring the substation remains operational. For now, we remain determined to protect our power supply,” said Gerretsen.
