The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is not satisfied with the explanation offered by the Rand West Local Municipality (Randfontein and Westonaria) for the prolonged power outages affecting the rural communities of Randfontein.
According to the ANC-controlled Municipality’s public notice, some residents have been without electricity since the last week of March after at least six 6,6 kV pole-mounted transformers failed as a result of ageing infrastructure, vandalism, cable theft and poor management.
The notice claims that repairs cannot be done as suppliers do not have sufficient stock; apparently, the network is outdated and only newer 11 kV transformers are available.
The Freedom Front Plus finds this statement misleading, as enquiries made to three suppliers revealed that in most cases transformers do not need to be replaced and can generally be repaired within 3 to 4 weeks.
The suppliers indicated that while 6,6 kV transformers are scarcer than their 11 kV counterparts, they are certainly not unobtainable. They also confirmed the availability of a so-called “dual-system transformer” that can be changed from 6,6 kV to 11 kV at the flick of a switch.
This poor service delivery accompanied by feeble excuses inevitably raises the question of whether the Municipality lacks the will to provide services to paying residents, or whether it is playing for time because it has insufficient funding for the current financial year.
At the next council meeting, the Freedom Front Plus will ask whether the Municipality still has enough funds to meet all its financial obligations for the rest of the financial year.
These unplanned outages disrupt daily life, damage appliances and leave households unable to prepare food and water.
Voters would do well to note who is to blame for the poor service delivery and remember that with the local government elections in November, the Freedom Front Plus offers a reliable alternative to the ANC’s mismanagement.
FF+ Manifesto on Rural development: Promoting development in rural areas.