The metro had to replace the doors of a substation in the central business district eight times in one week.As soon as new doors were hung at the substation on Casuarina Street, it again disappeared overnight.
Residents are concerned that this is a hazard for people who work and live around the area.
Shop owners of a shopping centre close to the substation believe the doors were removed to be sold. The palisade gates that are supposed to be secured around the substation were also broken and stolen.
One shop owner’s concern is that the people who removed the doors could also rob their stores.
“They remove the doors overnight. The municipality fixes the doors today and tomorrow the doors are gone again,” said one shop owner.
“We are also in danger because the worst could happen if it rains. We have children who walk up and down the street and if they enter and tamper with what is inside, they could get hurt. There needs to be more security so the thieves cannot enter here,” he added.
Themba Gabede, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni, said the doors were replaced eight times in one week. Currently, a temporary barricade has been erected. A site meeting was held on August 29 with a service provider to assist with making an appropriate door that will not be easy to dislocate from the structure.
“In the interim, a security guard has been placed at the substation to ensure that the barricade is not tampered with and there has been no further theft,” said Gabede.
