Darling, switch the lights off for me
Don’t leave the lights on, says Mbombela Local Municipality who this week issued a notice that residents must report daylight wasting of electricity. The notice, issued on Wednesday, asks Mbombela;s citizens to report street lights burning during daylight hours. This follows a notification by Eskom of possible load shedding.
MBOMBELA – MLM spokesman, Mr Joseph Ngala said that all council buildings including civic centres and offices have been instructed to switch lights and appliances off after work hours. He urged private companies to do the same. “Most large building have security guards and do not need all of the lights on for security purposes,” he said.
Readers have voiced their opinion via our social media, in particular asking about the lights being left on at night at the provincial government complex in Riverside. The department of Public Works manages buildings occupied by government departments. They will respond to questions regarding the management of electricity in the building, the monthly usage and monthly costs.
A reader that works in the government complex said that they often work at night and that the complex is protected under the National Key Points Act. Key points contained in this act are being kept secret and this could not be verified by Lowvelder. The question remains, does this mean the lights can be left to burn all night?
The public is encouraged to report street lights which burn during the day to the following numbers: 013-759-2231 (Nelspruit, eastern areas including Numbi Park and Vakansie Dorp); 013-750-6014 (White River and Hazyview). The Mbombela communications department may also be contacted on 013-759-2115.
Please let us know what response you get from reporting municipal day light electricity wastage.
Some of the readers comments were:
Nico Oosthuizen asked why the Mbombela stadium lights burn while there is no event going on? “You can light up a 1000 house’s with that electricity.” TA te time of going to print, Lowvelder had not received feedback yet on whether the stadium will make changes in light of Eskom’s warning.
According to Naomi Labuschagne Nel, she gets angry that people like her, who have made an effort to save electricity by installing LED lighting, still pays the price of other’s wastage. “start at reducing unnecessary lights on streets and buildings…security is a lame excuse….we can all go solar….government can too!” writes Thea Rix.
Jacky Greeff concurs, saying government should lead by example, “But no . . . with them it’s rather do as I say and not as I do.”
Morina Jan-Ras Erasmus thinks Mbombela must “Get their act together,” she says that her electricity had been cut off twice before by council, when she had proof of payment. They blame it on system errors.
Heloise Potgieter stated that it would be nice if someone answered the phone when she wants to report burning lights.
On a more positive note, Charlotte Howe Rodseth comments “Such a SA thing to immediately point fingers! If everyone could rather take it upon make themselves to make their own small effort and spread a positive attitude.”
