SHARPEVILLE. – “Commanders Good Morning”!

This greeting has become a norm, or somewhat synonymous with the members of Boitshepiville Commanders Task Team (BCTT), a group of community members that have taken it upon themselves to unselfishly, without fear or any favour, guard an electrical substation based on ‘Hlalakwabafileyo’, a squatter camp between Tshepiso and Smarties (‘Divencheng’) in Sharpeville.

The community members from Boipatong, Tshepiso, and Sharpeville (Boitshepiville) decided to form the group last September following vandalism and cable theft at the substation, leading to interrupted electrical supply, at odd hours and for numerous days to their households. The BCTT group members, with their base being a few meters outside the substation, alternate to continuously and uninterruptedly guard it (the substation), day and night.

BCTT is a formal structure that has been registered as a Non-Profit Company and is said to be supported by Ward Councillors of Boitshepiville who have apparently also since approached national electricity supplier, Eskom, to recognize it so that both parties can work hand in hand in safekeeping infrastructure, they are meanwhile said to be awaiting Eskom’s reply on the proposal.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Baba ‘Biblos’ Lebona, the Chairperson of BCTT, said that it is a different ball game when it comes to the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) regarding their recognition of its infrastructure as they do not know where they stand with the municipality because no positive response has come from it (ELM) from high authority, except from the different Ward Counsellors that they are working with.

The survival of BCTT depends mainly on a few ‘Good Samaritans’ such as local businessmen, one notable being Riaaz Choonara, who donates food and other necessities to the group. Others donate materials such as corrugated iron, firewood, and tyres for the group’s members to keep warm by making fire and shelter during chilly and/or rainy days.

A few local businesses also make a donation of R 100 each, voluntarily.

Community members, although not from all households, have similarly taken it upon themselves to contribute R 20 from each household on a monthly basis to keep the group going.

“We are grateful indeed, some of the households have elderly and sick people, while some are child-headed. The Commanders make sure that they take care of all of us,” community members Sedibeng Ster spoke to said.

On the other hand, Lebona said that there are many challenges that they are faced with as a group such as safety, resources, transport, and equipment, however, they persevere.

“Some of the challenges that we are facing are that, at any point in time, we do not know who we are dealing with, who are the thieves and we don’t know what they have because we are on guard only with sjamboks and tasers. Another one is that we don’t have toilets, and we are guarding with female members, so it becomes a challenge when they need to answer nature’s call,” said Lebona.

He further points out that they have been attacked on numerous occasions, sometimes with guns, and that criminals have tried to invade the substation time and again but that they (BCTT), have always come out tops.

“We plan to carry on with the project for as long as the cable is safe and the community is not suffering from the unexpected black-outs. I would, personally, like our community to stand up and protect our infrastructure because together we can do more!”, Lebona said, as he ended the interview on a familiar note.

“Commanders, Good Morning!”