In a crucial step towards safeguarding the electricity supply in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Perseverance Business Association (PBA), a geographic cluster of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, has installed state-of-the-art thermal cameras at the Redhouse Substation. This move enhances early detection capabilities for fire or electrical arcing, vital for preventing potential threats to the substation and ensuring the stability of the electricity supply in the area.
The installation forms part of the Chamber’s Adopt-A-Substation initiative, a pioneering programme designed to protect key infrastructure through robust security measures. Under the initiative, businesses in specific areas are taking responsibility for implementing monitoring systems to guard substations against theft, vandalism, and other potential disruptions.
Brenton van Vuuren, Acting Chairman of the Perseverance Business Association, emphasised the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding critical infrastructure. “Our goal is to ensure that we take every possible step to prevent disruptions to power supply that could negatively affect local businesses. By installing thermal cameras at Redhouse, we can detect potential threats at an early stage, minimising the risk of damage or service interruption.”
The initiative, launched in 2022 with a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Chamber, is a key part of the broader efforts to secure the metro’s vital electricity infrastructure. Since its inception, the Adopt-A-Substation programme has grown to encompass 20 substations across the Metro. The programme encourages businesses to invest in monitoring, surveillance and physical security measures to ensure substations remain operational and secure.
Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, explained, “The Adopt-A-Substation initiative is a vital part of our strategy to support businesses and create a stable operating environment in Nelson Mandela Bay. We are pleased with the progress we’ve made since the programme’s launch, and the addition of advanced technology like thermal cameras, is an important step towards improving the electricity infrastructure’s resilience. Ultimately critical initiatives such as this further contributes to driving towards a more stable and reliable environment in which business can operate and protect jobs.”
With the successful collaboration of businesses, the programme has contributed to a more secure and reliable electricity supply, which is vital for economic growth and stability. The Perseverance Business Association’s involvement underscores the critical role the business community plays in proactively safeguarding key infrastructure in the metro.
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Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is a beautiful city located on the coast in the Eastern Cape Province and is known as the “Friendly City”, with other towns in this district including Kariega (Uitenage) and Despatch. Forming part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Gqeberha has stunning beaches, historical museums and memorials, award-winning wildlife sanctuaries and super friendly people, making it a spectacular holiday destination.
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Thuli Madonsela – Former Public Protector, Current Professor of Law, holding a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University since January 2018. \”Thuli Madonsela is very centred. Her leadership style is non-reactive and very clearly on point. She signals her intention and she holds her presence. This gives her enormous integrity and adds credibility and moral authority to her professional presence,\” says Liz de Wet, course convenor of the Women in Leadership programme at the UCT Graduate School of Business. Thuli Madonsela\’s greatest influence on the business industry is being a voice of integrity and reminding business leaders of the importance of ethical governance and business practises. \”Business is in a position of power and privilege, and business has a voice‚ in the same way that when you become an advocate‚ you have a voice. It also means that you have an obligation to leverage your influence for good‚\” said Madonsela. In 2014, she made Time Magazine\’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2016, she was named Forbes Africa Person of the Year. In 2017, she won the 3rd Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law Award.