Cops keep close watch over Alex substation
ALEXANDRA – Allegations have surfaced that disgruntled arsonists who previously benefited from contracts-for-pals deals took their frustrations out on the transformer substation.
City Power hired a private contractor to fix a transformer substation on 6th Avenue in Alex that was gutted by a fire.
As a result of the fire, hundreds of residents who live in houses along 6th and 7th avenues were left in the dark.
Alex’s Region E Business Forum has in the past apparently demanded that it be allotted a certain percentage of all small business contracts in Region E, and some residents suspect forum members caused the damage because the new Metro administration was doing away with the practice of reserving work and business opportunities for them.
The contractor and City Power officials worked around-the-clock to restore power, while Metro police kept watch over them. Mpho Maso, regional operations manager for City power said a suspect was allegedly spotted by members of the public setting the substation alight.
DA proportional representative councillor Shadrack Mkhonto alleged that some forum members had tried to interfere with people doing repairs on the substation, but they were told off by angry residents. He urged leaders and councillors to intervene and to stop any malicious acts of arson that denied residents essential services.
Resident Floyd Ngwenya said the transformer substation provided erratic power supply and always tripped in winter when electricity usage peaked. Another resident Justice Muchavi said the substation was old and unable to meet the increasing demand for power.
Nico de Jager, MMC for the Environment and Infrastructure Services, said criminal charges had been laid against the forum. Attempts to get comment from the forum were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.
Details: Shadrack Mkhonto 079 444 1464.
How should political parties and service providers in Alex work collectively for the benefit of residents? WhatsApp your views to Alex News on 079 439 5345.
