City buys new transformer
THE City of uMhlathuze has invested millions for a new transformer to help prevent electricity outages in Port Durnford, KwaDube and the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority.
The transaction went through last week, and city engineers began installing the new 20 MVA transformer at eSikhaleni substation on Tuesday, expecting the job to be completed by Wednesday.
‘The old transformer blew in December. Our engineers had to reduce the electricity supply to people living under these tribal councils to prioritise those living in eSikhaleni,’ explained city mayor, Cllr Xolani Ngwezi.
Ngwezi said when the installation is complete they would wait for another two days for it to be put into operation.
'The city worked hard to get this transformer, and we urge the community to protect the city's infrastructure. We also urge them to cease illegal connections and the stealing of electricity.
‘We have an indigent programme for those who can’t afford our services, including water and electricity. The illegal electricity connections are now a cause of concern in some areas, especially where Eskom is responsible for the electricity supply.
‘This transformer will resolve electricity outages by 99 per cent, but we are not out of the woods, because if one of our transformers blows today, we will go back to the same crisis.
‘Currently, we are planning to buy a spare mobile transformer that will be used as backup, but we have to seek council approval to do that after our midterm adjustment budget in July.
‘According to the Constitution, people can only be without electricity for 48 hours, not more than that. But we have discovered that this was not the case as residents have had to spend more than 30 days without electricity, which is unacceptable.'
Ngwezi urged residents from the affected areas to be patient, as electricity issues cannot be resolved overnight.
Skills exchange
Ngwezi said the city is strengthening its partnership with large local companies so they can exchange engineering expertise and skills.
‘We have already had our first meeting with these companies and they are willing to partner with us.
‘For now, we are dealing with terms of reference on how this partnership would work.
'We need to focus more on planning and human capacitation to boost our engineers, by using the expertise of these corporate professional engineers,’ he said.
Visits to traditional councils
Ngwezi, accompanied by his executive members and senior management, has embarked on a mission to visit all tribal councils under his municipality. On Wednesday, Ngwezi led his delegation to KwaMkhwanazi Tribal Council and his main aim was to find out how municipal services function in these areas.
‘We started this programme last week when we visited Inkosi Cebekhulu of Ubizo; we were well received by the Inkosi and his council.
‘Our delegations consist of water, sanitation, roads, human settlement and other departments.
'Our main aim is to ascertain what the community of these areas needs, and what our municipality has done in rendering services to them.
‘We also look at when planned projects are going to start and how much they would cost the city. If there are projects already under way, we then conduct our oversight visits to ascertain their status,’ Ngwezi said.
Water provision
Ngwezi also revealed that they have bought five new water tankers for areas where water infrastructure is still underdeveloped.
‘Two of these tankers have been delivered, and another three are expected to be delivered in February.
‘Our main aim is to reduce the procurement of privately owned water tankers, which are too expensive - especially with our municipality currently in a R149-million deficit.
'In our next budget adjustment, we will buy 12 water tankers, which will then mean we have 17.'
He urged people to be more patient and said they are working hard in addressing the flaws of the previous administration, but said they are determined to listen to any complaints.