Outdated power infrastructure is the reason behind the 500 or so unplanned power outages in Ekurhuleni Metro every month.
This is evident from an economic development report tabled to the Metro’s Financial Oversight Committee.
The number of complaints from residents keeps growing as the transmission network is failing and there is no response from the Electricity Division.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, poor leadership, managerial mistakes and a lack of accountability exacerbate the problem.
The fact that the Metro spends only 2,39% on the salaries of electricity personnel, while NERSA’s guideline is 10%, could also add to the slow response times.
Ekurhuleni’s trite policy of Affirmative Action, however, hampers the appointment of competent electricity personnel to fill vacant positions.
The Freedom Front Plus called on the Mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, and the Department of Energy to prioritise budget allocations for critical infrastructure and maintenance programmes.
Loyal taxpayers deserve to get the services for which they pay. It is high time that the ANC/EFF-controlled Ekurhuleni pulled up its socks and fulfilled its obligations towards residents.
