eMbalenhle residents fear for their lives over dangerous electricity pole
Due to the high voltage it carries, residents fear the pole could collapse at any time, potentially damaging nearby houses or electrocuting people.
Residents of Ext 20 in eMbalenhle are living in fear as a dangerously leaning high-voltage electricity pole continues to pose a serious threat to lives and property.
According to community members, the pole began to bend six years ago and has been reported multiple times to the Govan Mbeki Municipality. Despite numerous complaints, no action has been taken to rectify the situation.
Due to the high voltage it carries, residents fear the pole could collapse at any time, potentially damaging nearby houses or electrocuting people.
Community members expressed frustration, accusing municipal employees in the electricity department of failing to act.
“They come, look at the pole, and then leave without doing anything. The municipality will only act once the pole has caused death or destruction.
“That’s when we’ll see politicians crying crocodile tears. Politicians only fix things after disasters happen; it’s as if they benefit from the chaos,” said Sipho Nkambule, a community member.
He also slammed the municipality for what he called a reactive rather than proactive approach to infrastructure issues.
“Children are children. I once chased three of them who were swinging on a rope tied to another pole near the leaning one. We cannot protect them all the time,” added Nkambule.
Other residents expressed concern that the situation could worsen in August, when strong seasonal winds are expected. They fear the wind could finally push the pole over, causing catastrophic damage.
The community is now calling on the municipality to urgently intervene by either repairing or removing the hazardous pole before tragedy strikes.
Donald Green, the municipality’s Media Liaison and Content Development Officer, said the municipality acknowledges the complaint.
Green explained that the municipality embarked on a project last year to replace damaged poles, with a significant number already replaced and the process ongoing.
He also confirmed that the pole at the complainant’s yard requires urgent intervention and assured that the municipality will attend to the complaint promptly.
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