City Power has blamed an excessive voltage caused by load-shedding for a newly-installed cable catching fire in Robin Hills. However, they have also acknowledged that shoddy work by the contractor played a role, and remedial action will be taken against them.
What began as a 30-hour power outage in the area, saw the contractor replace faulty cables with new ones, which in turn caught fire when electricity was restored, and a further 50-hour outage ensued.
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“The Randburg Service Delivery Centre acknowledges the residents’ concerns regarding the poor workmanship following the repairs,” City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena told Randburg Sun.
“We have reviewed the video sent to us, and indeed, our quality assurance team needed to be on-site following repairs to inspect the workmanship before leaving. Our team has investigated the defects that residents have raised and ensured that it is rectified and further provide a better quality of work and execution. Remedial action will be taken against the contractor for the shoddy work done.”
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A more experienced contractor was briefed on the challenges raised by residents and their disappointment with the situation, and then dispatched by City Power to “repair the cable and connect a more robust joint to withstand the load.
“The team has cleared the site and will bury the cable underground,” Mangena said, adding that City Power strives to “adhere to higher standards in our work to ensure it’s safer for our residents and not an eyesore”.
“We have also emphasised the importance of safety and cleanliness in work produced to avoid such a situation.”
