Resident frustrated with no power and no key to open substation and fix issue
The missing key to a substation in Grobler Park left one resident without power for 16 days aside from the other potential safety risks posed by failing infrastructure.
A Grobler Park resident questioned the negligence of City Power after struggling without power for 16 days.
Piet Snyman explained the power went out after load-shedding had ended on January 13. He noted he heard thunder before load-shedding was scheduled so he is unsure if that had something to do with the power failing, but he reported the matter to City Power (CP) on the same day. After this, a technician from the entity came to look at the substation however he discovered he did not have a key to unlock the substation and left to go get it. Snyman stated he just never came back again. He added all the tickets he received from logging the calls simply state the key can’t be found.
In addition, Snyman mentioned in the past when they had power failures, CP would simply open the lock by digging underneath the substation and opening it manually. This time however the missing key posed an impossible situation.
He noted during the time he struggled without power he had seen two CP trucks coming to fix other power issues in the area, yet his remains off. He also noted his neighbours all had power, but his house was dark.
He further explained his generator can not run everything in his house and he has had to fill his third gas bottle. He questioned whether CP would reimburse him for the petrol he used to run his generator and the gas he used for his stove.
The matter is also worsened with his wife in hospital and him having to struggle at home.
Snyman mentioned on January 29 the power was restored by digging underneath the box and opening it manually. He expressed his thanks to the two CP employees who came to fix the issue even though it was raining.
He also raised other concerns in Schreiner Street of a pothole that he explained is beginning to affect the road and the surrounding houses by weakening the infrastructure. As well as a drain that is falling in which he added poses a threat to the children walking by.
Bertha Peters-Scheepers, the spokesperson for the Johannesburg Road Agency, commented that someone from the entity would have to inspect the road to see the damage as well as the drain to determine if it is a stormwater drain, sewage or freshwater drain. She confirmed someone would have visited the site early last week.
CP has not commented by the time of publication, but as soon as comment is received an update will be given.
