Improved services ahead for EMLM

New trucks to see power cuts fixed sooner

Newly purchased crane and cherry picker trucks worth R2.5m are set to bring improved service delivery in Komani and its surrounding areas.

The municipality has been struggling to serve communities without the essential trucks, causing frustration among residents.

The four-tonne cherry picker will be used for tree felling and electrical purposes, including maintaining street lights.

It will be stationed at the technical services department.

The crane truck will be used for installing poles for transformers and ferrying stormwater pipes. EMLM mayor Thembeka Bunu believes the purchase of the new fleet will result in improved service delivery and less community protests over prolonged power maintenance issues that have plagued the community.

She was certain power outages could now be attended to more speedily.

“We are very happy as a municipality. There is light and hope in our town and its surrounding areas,” Bunu said.

“People will be able to see and criminals will be exposed.

“I am sure the unrest will also subside, because we were facing a lot of that.

“We know Enoch Mgijima is under financial constraints. Our directors, through the CFO, made sure money was set aside from the municipality’s funds.”

Technical services portfolio head Mhlangabezi Mangcotywa extended gratitude to Chris Hani District Municipality for lending a hand when the municipality did not have a crane truck. He said: “The two trucks will service the 34 wards in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.

“We also plan to get trackers installed in them for security purposes as it would really place us at great disadvantage if something were to happen to the trucks.”

Technical services director Zwelethemba Nkosinkulu said the trucks would be used in the upcoming installation of street lights.

Queenstown Ratepayers’ Association chair WP Prinsloo said the new fleet were desperately needed as the municipality’s one cherry picker truck was either always broken or being used.

“We just hope the operators will be trained properly to work well with the trucks. The crane truck will help a lot in clearing trees a long-standing problem

away from the power lines so when the wind blows the power does not go off,” he said.

Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA FLEET HANDOVER: Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality officials take delivery of the crane and cherry picker trucks after purchase from local car dealership Jackson’s, in Komani, on Monday. They are, from left, intergrated planning and economic development’s Sakhile Mvana, technical services portfolio head Mhlangabaezi Mangcotywa, mayor Thembeka Bunu, Jackson’s dealer principal Patrick Casey, truck service advisor Debbie Bradfield, public safety portfolio head Zukiswa Ralani, acting municipal manager and CFO Paul Mahlasela, technical services director Zwelethemba Nkosinkulu and fleet manager Xola Mtati