City Power responds to Orange Grove substation concerns
City Power says an Orange Grove substation has not been neglected, citing routine inspections, recent vegetation clearing and plans to secure the site following resident complaints.
City Power has responded to concerns raised by Orange Grove resident, Daniel Chetty, regarding a substation that was allegedly neglected for more than three years, saying the infrastructure has not been neglected and that maintenance work has now been actioned.
According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, substations are inspected annually, with major maintenance carried out every five years. He said vegetation growth around the Orange Grove substation had increased significantly due to recent ongoing rainfall.
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“The site was assessed on January 25, with follow-up vegetation maintenance initiated on January 27,” Mangena said, adding that vegetation management is conducted as required and, where necessary, in coordination with City Parks.
Responding to claims that contractors were unable to access the site due to broken gates and missing keys, Mangena said the majority of electricity maintenance and fault response work is handled by City Power’s internal teams, with contractors only used in limited cases.
City Power also acknowledged that overgrown vegetation and unsecured infrastructure pose safety and security risks. Mangena confirmed that vegetation-clearing work has already been completed and that a team has been assigned to secure the substation.
Also read: An Orange Grove resident raises safety concerns over neglected City Power substation
On reports of snakes, snails and vegetation encroaching onto private property, City Power said there was no evidence at this stage directly linking these issues to the substation, noting that factors on private property fall outside its control.
Mangena added that the original service request had been logged under an incorrect category, but a new work order was generated once this was identified. Residents with unresolved issues are encouraged to escalate matters via City Power’s toll-free call centre on 0800 003 156.
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