VANDERBIJLPARK.- “We cannot, day in and day out, year in and year out, be subjected to attending to the same problem that inconveniences and disturbs our people’s lives. The capacity and reliability of power from this Substation must be improved with the urgency it deserves,”- said Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Mayor, Hassan Mako, yesterday.

This was during a visit to the Currie Town Substation in Vanderbijlpark.

Mako had summoned the Acting Municipal Manager, Thandiwe Mathebula, the Executive Director responsible for electricity and basic services, Electrical Engineers, Senior managers, to the Currie Town Substation to ensure that those entrusted with managing and improving the municipality’s electricity infrastructure account directly for the challenges facing the facility and provide practical solutions to increase its capacity and reliability.

The ELM said that Mako wanted to see firsthand what has hindering progress and what interventions are required to resolve the matter.

“The visit formed part of the mayor’s relentless drive to ensure that every municipal employee uses their skills, expertise and talents to improve the daily lives of residents. He emphasised that public servants are employed not merely to occupy positions and earn salaries, but to utilise their knowledge and abilities to solve problems, improve services and contribute meaningfully to the development of Emfuleni.”

During the visit, it is said, Mako made it clear that while he appreciates the challenges faced by employees and departments, residents expect results.

He is said to have stressed that before discussions about overtime and additional resources can take place, employees must first ensure that they dedicate their full eight working hours to serving the people of Emfuleni with diligence, professionalism and commitment.

“The mayor challenged management and technical teams to move beyond identifying problems and focus on delivering solutions. He directed the Acting Municipal Manager, Engineers and relevant officials to work with urgency, including engaging Eskom and any other necessary electrical firms, to develop and implement a plan that will commission the additional transformer and address the substation’s capacity constraints.”

“We must help people manage their lives with certainty and dignity. Emfuleni must become a place where people choose to settle, where businesses choose to invest, and where reliable electricity supports growth and development. That requires all of us to use our talents, skills and expertise in service of our people,” -said Mako.