Residents create online petition following extensive power outages in Boskruin, Bromhof, Robindale and more
Residents have been erroneously moved to a new electricity block, but the matter is being attended to, ward councillors say.
Residents in Randburg have made an online petition demanding accountability and clarity from the municipality after an apparent mistake with homes being allocated to incorrect blocks, and areas suffering routine trips after power is restored following load-shedding.
The areas the petition lists as affected are Bromhof, Boskruin and Northwold, though the two local ward councillors recently made a video to residents, where they said Sundowner, Randpark Ridge and Robindale are also experiencing problems.
The petition on Change.org aims for 1 000 signatures, and at the time of print it had over 600.
“This petition is a desperate move because the overwhelming feeling is that local councillors are reduced to ‘escalating’ queries without any teeth to get real answers from the city as to what is really wrong, and how and when it will be addressed,” said organiser of the petition, business owner and resident Devlin Brown.
He said this is a recurring problem that persists even when new ward councillors are elected, and residents want more accountability from the city.
In response, Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk explained that this is all due to an apparent mistake on City Power’s part, where about 700 households in her ward’s section of Block 16 were changed recently to Block 14, and many households from Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp’s area switched to Block 14 as well, causing an overload.
The pair took a video at City Power’s Randburg depot, and said City Power will investigate over the weekend and hopes the issue will be resolved by June 27.
Today myself and @THEDEVCHEV met with @CityPowerJhb in Randburg to discuss the issues of newly added suburbs to block 14 aka #robindale pic.twitter.com/3AUpFogRDu
— Cllr Nicole van Dyk (@MyLeaderNicole) June 24, 2022
“As the ward councillor for the areas affected, I continue to engage with the city executive, MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Michael Sun on the matter and escalate where necessary to the depot,” Steenkamp told Randburg Sun.
“Although the petition mentioned has not been submitted as yet and may have been created in haste before allowing a reasonable time for City Power to respond, residents are further encouraged to submit petitions to the city and engage with the City Ombudsman which are other official mechanisms to raise awareness of the issues at hand.”
He said a public meeting will be held between City Power officials and residents on July 5, though more details will be communicated to residents.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena has yet to respond to questions sent to him on the matter.
Joburg Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse tweeted on June 23, the same day the petition went online, “For the 2022/23 financial year, the Multi-Party Government has allocated R1.2-billion to stabilise and upgrade@CityPowerJhb infrastructure. MMC @MichaelSun168 is also working to give effect to the outcomes, to ensure we rely less on Eskom & see fewer faults.”
For the 2022/23 financial year, the Multi-Party Government has allocated R1,2-billion to stabilise and upgrade @CityPowerJhb infrastructure.
MMC @MichaelSun168 is also working to give effect to the #JoburgEnergyIndaba outcomes, to ensure we rely less on Eskom & see fewer faults.
— Executive Mayor Mpho Phalatse (@mphophalatse1) June 23, 2022
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