Residents along Louis Botha Avenue furious as City Power fails to fix damaged infrastructure
After a car chase damaged a City Power electricity box in December, exposed infrastructure, mounting delays, and alleged bribery have left residents in the dark, both literally and figuratively
Frustration is mounting among residents and business owners along Louis Botha Avenue, who have endured nearly 150 days of power instability after a high-speed police chase in December 2024 damaged a City Power electrical box.
A suspect’s vehicle crashed into the electrical unit during the pursuit, causing serious damage and a supply interruption on December 19. While power was restored shortly afterwards, the protective hood covering the infrastructure was never replaced. Since then, residents say they have endured multiple outages due to tripped switches, exposure to the elements, and theft of components, and their repeated pleas for proper repairs have been ignored.
Read more: Planned power interruption rescheduled for May 29
The unprotected box was completely stripped by criminals, leading to yet another full outage on April 25. Although City Power technicians returned two days later and placed the same damaged cover back on the box, the infrastructure remains exposed and vulnerable to weather, theft, and vandalism. Residents argue that this is not just a maintenance issue; it’s a serious safety concern.
Dr Lee Randall, one of the affected residents and a director of the Road Ethics Project, has documented the issue extensively. She reported that after logging the fault on City Power’s app, the report was marked: ‘Job complete’, despite no permanent solution being implemented. The app also did not allow her to flag the issue as a: ‘dangerous situation’, which she argues it clearly is.
Adding to concerns, they were allegedly told they should have opened a police case in December last year, something they argue is not their responsibility, given that the infrastructure belongs to the city. Matters escalated further when a contractor reportedly demanded R4 000 from residents to replace the hood, prompting serious concerns over accountability and potential misconduct.
Also read: Power fully restored in Craighall Park following cable fault
In response, City Power stated that the first formal query related to the infrastructure damage was only logged on May 7 under reference CPWEB4647007. Earlier logs from December (such as CP3269185) were categorised as supply-related, and not as infrastructure damage. The utility claims that a temporary cover has now been installed, and that a full replacement will be carried out once new materials arrive. Residents, however, insist it should not be up to them to point out the obvious, especially as City Power staff and contractors have attended to the box multiple times since December, including on the day of the crash. On each occasion, they say it was self-evident that the hood was either missing or no longer functional. Randall’s view is that failure to rectify this timely is unethical, and has led to the wastage of scarce municipal resources.
City Power attributed the delay to a growing backlog in replacing stolen or vandalised metal covers, which are frequently targeted for their scrap value. They added that priority is being given to high-risk areas, including Louis Botha Avenue.
Addressing the alleged payment demand, City Power clarified that residents are never expected to pay for the repair or replacement of municipal infrastructure. They urged anyone with information about the contractor involved to report it to their anti-fraud hotline so a formal investigation can be launched.
Ward 74 councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, who has been supporting residents throughout the ordeal, welcomed the response to Randall’s concerns, but criticised the lengthy delay. “It’s been months of escalation,” she said, “after many promises. This is unacceptable.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku confirmed that her recent integrated development plan (IDP) submission included a call for a full audit of transformers and substations in the ward. She also requested an upgrade to the power network servicing Rouxville, Orchards, Cheltondale, and Highlands North, along with solar-powered high mast lighting on key roads vulnerable to vandalism.
For residents of Louis Botha Avenue, the lack of urgency from authorities remains a point of contention as exposed infrastructure continues to pose both safety and service delivery risks.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
Related article: Power restored in Rosebank and surrounding areas
