"Privremene" električne veze u Nelson Mandela Bayu sada predstavljaju stalnu opasnost za stanovnike

Nelson Mandela Bay's electricity crisis has escalated into a public safety emergency, with hundreds of temporary electrical connections left unattended and posing serious dangers to residents. In the suburb of Lorraine, a temporary connection sits perilously near a rain-filled trench, its warning tape missing. This situation reflects a broader pattern across the city, where temporary fixes, meant as short-term solutions, have become permanent hazards. The issue stems from a severe shortage of skilled electricians, according to a report submitted to Nelson Mandela Bay councillors. Each technician is capable of addressing only six of the 20 electrical faults reported daily, forcing the rest to be handled with temporary measures. As a result, the backlog of unresolved issues continues to grow, increasing the risk of accidents and prolonged power disruptions. Residents have had to alter their routines to avoid hazardous conditions. Cyclists and joggers now reroute their paths to bypass open trenches, some of which lie directly on roads or sidewalks. In these areas, the plastic barriers meant to warn of danger have frequently been removed by wind, leaving the public vulnerable. Ward councillors have raised alarms, emphasizing that these temporary connections endanger lives, particularly as trenches fill with rainwater, creating conditions ripe for electrocution and persistent outages. According to Jose Smith, the City’s deputy director for distribution in the North and Motherwell depots, the primary causes of cable failures include damage from third-party activities such as waterworks, fiber installation, and road construction. These incidents often go unreported, and the affected areas are merely covered, allowing moisture to seep into the cables and cause failures during rainfall. Additionally, much of the existing cable infrastructure is outdated, having surpassed the recommended 30-year lifespan, which contributes to frequent breakdowns. Some trenches, including those spanning residential driveways, have remained open for over a year with minimal communication from the municipality regarding when permanent repairs will occur. In certain cases, overgrown vegetation has concealed these openings, leading to reports of individuals falling into them. In Mangold Park, a large trench has made pedestrian movement challenging, forcing people to navigate around parked vehicles on the streets. Delays in completing permanent repairs are attributed to multiple factors. High volumes of reported faults contrast sharply with the limited capacity of available technicians. On average, 20 faults are logged daily, yet each artisan can only perform six permanent repairs, pushing the remainder to remain as temporary solutions. The report also highlights fleet management challenges, as vehicle repair contracts are not in place, causing extended downtime for essential equipment such as platform and crane trucks. Without proper maintenance, these vehicles cannot pass compliance checks, rendering them unfit for operation. Safety concerns in high-crime areas further complicate service delivery. Artisans are sometimes hesitant to respond to faults in these zones due to perceived risks. The North Depot currently depends on a single main contractor for underground cable repairs, and the intense workload has prevented timely completion of tasks. With no immediate resolution in sight, the situation continues to worsen, placing residents at greater risk.