Civil rights organisation, community cleans Eldoraigne substation surrounds
AfriForum Centurion and the local community got busy last week as they cleaned and maintained parts of Centurion.
The AfriForum Centurion branch recently led a clean-up operation around the Eldoraigne substation on Jan Street.
On May 11, the substation caught fire , damaging cables and components. One transformer had to be disconnected from the grid as a result.
This left large parts of Centurion without power for several hours.
The fire was suspected to have been caused by cable vandalism and theft.
Many parts of Centurion have become increasingly hazardous because of illegal recycling activities and the dumping of construction debris.
Despite the presence of permanent guards, the substation has been a frequent target of cable theft and vandalism, leading to significant power outages in surrounding suburbs.
“This is an extremely dangerous terrain,” said AfriForum Centurion branch chairperson, Andre de Bruyn.
“Not only does the area host a very large illegal recycling point, but it is also used for illegal dumping of construction debris.
“This has made it necessary for us as a community to intervene to make this area safer.”
The substation has also been a hotspot for criminal activity.
Cable theft and vandalism have caused numerous power outages, disrupting the lives of residents in Eldoraigne, Wierdapark, Raslouw, Celtisdal, Bronberrik, Cranbrook Vale and Hennops Park.
De Bruyn said the initiative to clean a 10m strip around the substation was important in safeguarding this essential infrastructure.
The aim of the clean-up was to remove debris and potential hiding spots for criminals, deterring further vandalism and theft.
In addition to the substation clean-up, the AfriForum Centurion branch collaborated with a resident of Goshawk Street, Wierdapark to improve road safety in their neighbourhood.
“For years, the resident has not been able to get in or out of his yard without avoiding obstacles and dangerous traffic,” De Bruyn explained.
Last week, the contractor worked towards completing the final sealing of a speed bump and the necessary road painting to enhance safety.
AfriForum also organised community cleaning action on May 18 in DF Malan Drive in Kloofsig.
This initiative aimed at improving the local environment saw residents come together to collect over 6 000kg of garbage.
“Cheap labour is our downfall,” said De Bruyn.
“We also want to say a big thank you to everyone from the community who came to lend a hand.
“It is a great privilege for us to take responsibility for our suburbs together with [the community],” he said.
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