Despite attempts by ANC Councillor Naeem Patel to cover up for poor service delivery in the area, from the ANC-led Tshwane Metro Council, residents are certainly not fooled.
Cllr Patel is known to quickly post or copy and post when the Council eventually attends to complaints of residents, but fails to post when the Council drags its feet in attending to complaints, like non- functioning streetlights, which residents have been complaining about for years.
In one of the latest complaints of poor service delivery brought to the attention of the Laudium Sun, residents of 8th Avenue in Laudium, are angry that their complaints regarding two missing steel doors onto two separate electricity sub-stations, have still not been attended to (replaced), despite complaining to the Council and the local Councillor for about two years now. What is infuriating the residents, is that despite the open electricity sub stations posing a serious danger to residents, especially children living in the area or those passing by, going to school or the public swimming pool, the Council and Cllr Patel are simply ignoring their pleas for quick action, before someone gets electrocuted.
Utesh Rajoo of 8th Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “It has been more than two years that the two electric danger boxes have been left without doors, and this situation is extremely hazardous. As residents living in the area, we have requested the Council many times to replace the doors urgently, because it is totally unsafe leaving these open. Not only are the lives of adults at risk, but more especially the many children who pass by the area daily to go to the school nearby and the swimming pool on this street. Many children living in the neighbourhood play around the area where these electricity sub-stations are located. I have even seen some of the kids hiding behind these sub-stations, when playing games with their friends. My fear is… what would happen if one of them had to touch the live wires there, as they are not aware of the serious risks associated with the exposed electrical infrastructure. The community has repeatedly raised this issue at the Council office and also with Cllr Patel and promises were made that the matter would be attended to. However, despite those assurances, no officials have arrived to repair or secure the boxes in all this time. It is unacceptable that such a dangerous safety hazard has been ignored for such a long period. Residents are frustrated and exhausted from constantly lodging complaints without seeing any meaningful action. Basic maintenance in the area by the Tshwane Council has been neglected and the poor service delivery continues to disappoint the community. The open electrical boxes stand as a symbol of unfulfilled commitments and poor accountability. This is not a minor inconvenience but a serious public safety concern
that requires urgent intervention. If a young child playing on the street places a hand inside one of these electricity units, the consequences could be devastating, that is why a steel door was placed there in the first place. Now it should just be replaced and perhaps the area around the electricity sub-station should be fenced off. The responsibility for any potential injury or even death would rest on Cllr Patel and the Council, who were informed about the risk yet failed to act. We as residents living in the area are once more urging Cllr Patel and the Council to treat our complaints with the urgency they deserve and to ensure that the missing doors of the electric danger boxes on 8th Avenue are replaced.”
Vinay Bhoora, also of 8th Avenue, told the Laudium Sun, “The missing doors of the electricity sub-stations must be replaced. Our street is very busy and many schoolchildren pass through here every single day, making matters worse. Children are naturally playful and curious and they may unknowingly go near these exposed electricity units without understanding the serious risks involved. Learners walking to and from school often gather along this street and some wait for transport nearby. With the doors missing, the internal electrical components are easily accessible. Any child who touches the wiring or inserts an object inside could face severe consequences. The danger is not only limited to children but also affects mentally challenged individuals who may not fully comprehend the hazards associated with exposed electrical equipment. They may approach the boxes out of curiosity, unaware that a single touch could place their lives at risk. Residents are deeply concerned that an unfortunate incident could occur at any time if urgent steps are not taken. Preventative action is far better than dealing with a tragedy later. Public infrastructure must be secured and maintained to ensure the safety of everyone in the community. The Council office is urged to treat this matter seriously, by replacing the missing doors.”
Abraham Dev, another 8th Avenue resident, told the Laudium Sun, “The exposed electricity units need to be secured immediately because they pose a serious threat to the community. Leaving them open puts pedestrians, especially young children and vulnerable individuals, at unnecessary risk. This is a basic safety issue that should not be ignored. Council workers should attend to the matter without delay and ensure that the boxes are properly sealed. It is not a complicated task, yet it remains unattended. Prompt action by the Council would prevent potential harm and restore a sense of safety in the neighbourhood.”
