Friday afternoon went out with a bang. Frantic witnesses and bystanders watched as plumes of thick black and grey smoked filled the air, after a truck knocked into a mini electrical substation in Alfred Street.

After a short while, the truck driver fled the scene. Learners from a neighbouring pre-school had to vacate the school yard with their caregivers and educators, after concerns for their safety.

In a panic, numerous business owners, home owners, bystanders and passers-by made an effort to contact the local emergency services, the municipality, the fire department and their last resort, the fire department chief. They were enraged and some very disappointed when their calls were greeted with ‘petty’ excuses, while others unluckily got no answer at all.

“Me and a few others on scene tried flagging down the fire engine, only for it to drive past,” said a man who witnessed the truck knock into the substation.

One other person on scene was heard saying that the absence of traffic officers was felt. The witness remarked that officers could have assisted with diverting the chaotic traffic flow through Harding Street. The burnt out substation caused an electricity cut, which affected robots as well as nearby business and homes. Private company N3 Fire responded to the fire and staff battled the flames with fire extinguishers.

The mini-substation houses 6 600 volts of electricity, which caused the fire to flare up several times. The municipality’s electrical department was on scene advising witnesses to stand back.

The fire department staff stopped at the scene after the fire was extinguished and then left. Later that day, the area was cordoned off and due to the passing rain; the mini-substation could not immediately renewed.

The electrical department returned later and worked through the evening, returning the next day to have electricity restored to affected areas.

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