Residents on Gihooley Road in Selection Park have complained about the lack of maintenance near the substation on the road.

According to residents, the substation was last maintained in December 2024. The Springs Advertiser observed the condition of the area, where grass has overgrown onto the road.

One resident, Gareth Newby, shared that the substation is an eyesore in the community. He said that the area experiences power surges from time to time, which last for two or more days.

“Due to the on-and-off that happens here, it has ruined my gate motor, which means I have to replace it.

“Residents have reported the condition of the substation, but nothing has been done by the City of Ekurhuleni,” explained Newby.

Newby, who works at the Selpark Veterinary Clinic, said that the power surges tend to affect the business because certain procedures require electricity.

One concerned resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that the high grass and weeds have opened an opportunity for crime in the area, including a hijacking that took place last August.

According to him, his neighbour has been to the Springs CCC to report the matter on the maintenance, where his grievances were not attended to.

“As the residents on this street, we have tried to get someone to cut the grass. Unfortunately, the person we approached told us he does not have the tools to cut the grass due to the size of the weeds.

“Last April, I was woken up by the neighbours at 03:00, saying that the grass near the substation was on fire.

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“I had a hosepipe, which didn’t help because it was too short, so we used buckets instead. Imagine if the fire had reached the substation—we would be telling a very different story,” said the resident.

Apart from the maintenance, the two residents also expressed that the streetlights in the area don’t work.
The concerned resident said that with winter approaching, people’s fear of walking on the road is increasing.

“All we want the metro to do is cut the grass around the substation because we fear that more crime will occur where the criminals will hide themselves in these bushes.”

Comment is awaited from the City of Ekurhuleni.