Ward 72 coucillor, Steven Kruger received reports of a fire at the substation in Birt Street, Sydenham, which also resulted in power outages in Livingstone, Durham and Sandler streets.
Kruger said, “Although City Power did a repair on the evening of 8 January, a large power outage in the east of Johannesburg occurred. It appears to me that due to this second outage, the problem at the substation was not adequately resolved and I received many calls on 9 January,” said Kruger. He escalated the matter to City Power and the issue was resolved on 9 January.
Kruger said, “As with many of the substations in Johannesburg, the grounds of the substation are not adequately maintained and are overgrown. Also, the security is inadequate and I have been told that a person is sleeping in the overgrown grounds [and in the substation itself].”
Kruger passed on the information of the person sleeping in the substation to City Power but, according to him, the door to the substation has still not been locked.
A comment from City Power was not received by the time of publication.
