Polokwane’s shocking power infrastructure fails safety standards

Quick read

• Open mini substations and meter boxes in Polokwane have been left exposed for months, creating serious public safety risks.

• These electrical units are often used as makeshift phone charging stations near taxi ranks.

• Many boxes are damaged due to accidents or cable theft and have not been repaired or secured.

• Municipal law requires these boxes to be locked and maintained by a legally appointed, registered electrical engineer.

• Polokwane currently has no such ‘competent person’ appointed, and the responsibility lies with the city manager.

• Eskom veteran Arthur McDermott has raised the alarm, calling the situation unlawful and dangerous, especially for children.

• He also revealed at least 40 municipal electrician posts are vacant, leaving critical infrastructure unmanaged.

• Full story below

Full story

POLOKWANE – Mini substations and meter boxes in the city are in a shocking state with open cabling left exposed for months and creating a life-threatening situation for residents.

A snap review of the pavements in the CBD, residential areas and the commercial area revealed that meter boxes and sub-stations that were either damaged by accidents or vandalised by cable thieves, are left unattended and pose a life-threatening risk for residents and in particular, children.

Open mini-substations and meter boxes are now commonly used as charging stations for mobile phone users waiting for taxis en route to work.

Municipalities are responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable supply of electricity, managing the distribution network and enforcing compliance with regulations and Polokwane Municipality is in serious default by not complying with the regulations promulgated in terms of legislation.

The root of the matter is that the municipality currently has no ‘competent person’ appointed in terms of the law to manage the electrical affairs of the local authority and that the responsibility now lies on the shoulders of the city manager.

Legislation dictates that a ‘competent person’ is required to answer in a court of law in the case of loss, injury of death and the Electricity Act stipulates this further: ‘In any civil proceedings against an undertaker arising out of damage or injury caused by induction or electrolysis or in any other manner by means of electricity generated or transmitted by or leaking from the plant or machinery of any undertaker, such damage or injury shall be presumed to have been caused by the negligence of the undertaker, unless the contrary is proven’.

“It is deeply concerning that the municipality continues to neglect its legal duty to appoint a qualified, registered electrical engineer as required by legislation,” local resident and former employee of Eskom, Arthur McDermott told Polokwane Observer.

“Across Polokwane, exposed high-voltage mini substations, unsecured distribution boxes, and poorly maintained low-voltage infrastructure pose serious threats to public safety – especially children and unsuspecting residents and even an opportunity for thieves who deal in copper theft and house break-ins. The ongoing neglect not only flouts the law, it endangers lives. The time for silence is over. If Polokwane’s leadership cannot protect its citizens or comply with national law, they must be held to account,” McDermott said and added that the electrical engineer position has been vacant for some time already and that the engineer who assisted in the past also resigned.

“At least 40 electrician positions are vacant and the council is not filling these with competent persons. This situation is an opportunity for fraud and the competency of the contractors are in doubt,” McDermott said.

According to him, all substations, mini-subs and distribution boxes must be locked at all times, with key control under a designated responsible person. This is a non-negotiable legal requirement under South African law. Infrastructure maintenance and compliance is not optional, it is an obligation, he believes.

McDermott pleaded that the municipality conducts an immediate investigation into the state of the city’s electrical infrastructure, appoint a registered electrical engineer in compliance with all legal standards as a matter of urgency.

Spokesperson for the municipality, Thipa Selala responded on Tuesday by claiming that, as part of the municipality’s ongoing maintenance programme, the repair and replacement of open or vandalised meter boxes remains a top priority.

“We wish to assure affected stakeholders that all reported meter boxes are receiving prompt attention and will be either repaired or fully replaced by June 26. In the interim, immediate measures will be taken to secure all open boxes and ensure that no live electrical components are exposed,” Selala promised.

Selala added that, in a proactive move, the municipality has allocated R10m in the new financial year specifically to tackle this issue.

“The funding will go towards replacing high-risk boxes with durable, tamper-resistant enclosures, with priority given to those already damaged,” he stated.