Call for probe into collapse of pylons after Nelson Mandela Bay power restored

Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk (middle), deputy mayor Babalwa Lobishe (left) and MMC for electricity Zanele Mali at a briefing discussing the extent of the power crisis. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)

By Estelle Ellis

1 Sep 2024

Nelson Mandela Bay City councillor Dries van der Westhuyzen has called for an investigation into the collapse of high-voltage pylons that left about a third of Nelson Mandela Bay without electricity for a week.

Power was restored to about a third of Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday after a week-long power outage caused by the collapse of rusted pylons broke a high-voltage power line that supplied the city. This happened on 23 August 2024 – power was restored fully only on Sunday, 1 September.

Democratic Alliance councillor Dries van der Westhuyzen has called for an investigation into the collapse of the power lines, questioning why a project that began a few years ago was abandoned and uncompleted.

nelson mandela bay power Summerstrand residents charge their phones at a home with an electricity supply. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)

Nelson Mandela Bay power Long lines of people wait to buy gas in Walmer, Gqeberha, on Saturday. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)

Van der Westhuyzen said some structures had been built, but the lines were never transferred.

“Our residents have suffered tremendously during this period. It cost them a lot of money. There are indications that this could have been avoided,” he said.

“Will you investigate why this project was delayed so long?” he asked acting executive mayor Babalwa Lobishe.

nelson mandela bay electricity Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk (centre), Deputy Mayor Babalwa Lobishe (left) and MMC for electricity Zanele Mali at a briefing discussing the extent of the power crisis. (Photo: Deon Ferreira)

She has been acting as the city’s executive mayor while Mayor Gary van Niekerk, from the National Alliance, left on a trip to China shortly after the disaster occurred.

Read more: Parts of Nelson Mandela Bay face 14-day power outage, pylon repairs could take months

There was praise all round for the team of “quiet but determined” electricity workers who braved strong wind, rain and cold temperatures to complete the repairs.

Lobishe said the city was committed to having a post-disaster briefing session.

“We will look at the entire plan,” she said. “We can’t move forward without looking at what has happened,” she said.

Maintenance spending

Last week, the Auditor-General said in her auditing report for the 2022/2023 financial year that the Nelson Mandela Bay metro had spent less than the required percentage on maintenance of infrastructure assets.

“The municipality disclosed spending of R369.7-million on repairing and maintaining infrastructure assets in annual financial statements,” the report states.

This is equivalent to 2.6% of the value of infrastructure assets while the National Treasury norm is a minimum of 8%.

Lobishe said they had shared the maintenance plan with Minister of Electricity Kgosientso Ramokgopa, who visited the disaster site on Wednesday.

“We committed to him that all hands are on deck,” she said, adding that there was R10-million now set aside for maintenance.

The city will need around R1-billion for an overhaul of its electricity infrastructure. Lobishe said this would have to happen in phases.

Apart from the electricity disaster, the city suffers from regular unscheduled power outages, including up to 90 in industrial areas just this year. Many are linked to vandalism.

Lobishe said they were grateful for their partnership with Eskom which helped them lessen the projected electrical downtime.

“All lights are on in the four [affected] wards,” she said.

Only they weren’t. A pole was cut down in Schoenmakerskop and this power supply is likely to be restored only by Monday.

The acting executive director of electricity, Bernard Tlali, said if everything went according to plan, they would continue with maintenance on the reconstructed line.

“At least this year we have managed to secure the budget,” he remarked dryly.

Read more: Businesses donate life-saving generator to Gqeberha disabled centre after crucial medical equipment runs out of power

“We have learnt a lot from this fault that happened. It brought us together. I just wish that this cohesion can carry on,” he added.

He said the felled pole at Schoenmakerskop was an isolated case and not connected to the collapse of the pylons. DM

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