GMM community disagrees with the premier
“We agreed that Sasol did great work by installing the modern technology equipment to make the substation work better but we disagree that it will do away with outages, especially in winter.
eMBALENHLE – The community members from eMbalenhle disagreed with premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane at the premier imbizo held at Risko Fakude Stadium in eMbalenhle on September 7.
She said in her speech that, together with Sasol, the government built a new sub-station near the eMbalenhle police station, which will stop electricity outages in eMbalenhle.
Mtsweni-Tsipane applauded Sasol for their work by employing 23 000 local community members during the shutdown this year.
Community members began to grumble while Tsipane was still presenting her speech, but she requested them to wait until she finished.
The community peppered her with questions and comments of disagreement.
“Sasol is lying to you. If this was true, all these people who are here are employed.
“How can we fill the stadium if we are employed for the Sasol shutdown? Let me tell you, premier, those contractors working inside Sasol have agents who want money before you can get employment.
“Many of those employed in shutdown are either related to the agents or have paid R2 000 or even more,” said Sunnyboy Mthimunye.
Other community members said Tsipane’s statement was misleading about the electricity outages in eMbalenhle.
They told the Ridge Times the premier had been misled by either the municipality or Sasol because the sub-station she referred to, was built long ago. It was merely refurbished.
“We agreed that Sasol did great work by installing the modern technical equipment to make the sub-station work better, but we disagree that it will do away with outages, especially in winter.
“The community will not be fooled. We are always told Govan Mbeki Municipality will implement load reductions because the main sub-station in Ext 5 is overloaded.
“How then, will a smaller sub-station that feeds into the main sub-station be able to stop outages?” asked a community member.
Tsipane said the sub-station is one of the best in the country. She will propose that all Mpumalanga municipalities follow in GMM’s footsteps of migrating from the old system and adapting to new technology.
She also said the sub-station will be able to detect faults without forcing employees to dig cables.
Sasol told Ridge Times at the time, that the refurbishment of this electrical ring sub-station cost the company about R7m.
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