Community calls out Govan Mbeki Municipality over dangerous pole
Despite several reports to the ward councillor and municipality, residents said the GMM took no action to repair or remove the unstable structure, which continues to pose a danger, especially to children who often play nearby.
Residents of Ext 18 are urging the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) to urgently address a dangerously leaning electricity pole that has been left unattended for over three months.
According to residents, a contractor hired by the municipality to install smart meters damaged the pole. They say this happened when one of the contractor’s workers was on a ladder attending to the electrical box.
The pole suddenly collapsed and struck the roof of a nearby RDP house. Fortunately, the worker escaped without injury.
Community members have since raised serious concerns about the municipality’s and contractor’s adherence to occupational health and safety standards.
“I don’t believe our municipality or its contractors follow even basic health and safety procedures before starting work on site. This incident clearly shows negligence by the municipality and the contractor.
“What if the worker had fallen and died, or the pole had caused serious damage to the house or injured someone passing by? Our municipality is gambling with our lives,” said Fiki Masuku, a concerned resident.
Despite several reports to the ward councillor and municipality, residents said the GMM took no action to repair or remove the unstable structure, which continues to pose a danger, especially to children who often play nearby.
The community now demands immediate action to secure and replace the pole before it causes serious injury or worse. Ext 18 is not alone; residents in Kinross have raised similar complaints about dangerously leaning electricity poles left unaddressed in their areas.
The Municipality spokesperson, Lucky Mhlongo said the GMM is aware of all the electricity poles that are damaged and the Electrical Department will be attending it.
He said the municipality is in the process of procuring for the additional poles to replaced the damaged ones in the next financial year that begins in July.
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