Full Investigation into and attendance of the power cuts and outages affecting the Glenwood/Umbilo areas
This petition is to insist that a full investigation be conducted on the cause of the abnormally frequently and prolonged power cuts and outages affecting the Glenwood and Umbilo areas.
Since March 2024 to date, there have been 70 different dates, on which several power cuts and outages affecting these areas, some lasting up to 40 hours or more, have been reported on the Service Delivery Group. Screen shots of these and the corresponding reference numbers can be provided. This is not inclusive of any load shedding.
The community as a whole is being severely and adversely affected, with members of the community suffering damage to electronics due to outages and power surges, member of the community losing thousands of rands due to spoiled perishable foods due to refrigeration not functioning and resulting in vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly, young children and babies, as well as the sick and infirm, suffering in the heat and in the dark as a result of no power.
Further to this, our community has become a hub and soft target for crime and criminal activity, due to the community being frequently plunged into darkness for extended periods of time. Community members are left vulnerable, as security systems do not function, cell phone batteries are flat and they cannot reach emergency services. Should the community suffer a medical emergency and have no means to contact emergency services, this places lives at risk.
It is quite obvious that the power cuts and power outages suffered by our community are grossly disproportionate to what can be considered normal and raise serious concern and suspicion.
The feedback we receive is that these outages are as a result of cable theft, which is exassabated when there are prolonged outages, giving criminals free righn and ample opportunity to steal even more cables, which is exactly what is happening. We have also been told these outages are as a result of aging and failing infustructure, accidents and load shedding upon aging and failing infustructure that cannot bear the load of being switched on and off repeatedly. Whatever the cause, it is highly suspicious and gives the impression there might be some level of sabotage and that the damages or at least some of them, might be purposefully perpetuated by sinister elements.
The tax paying citizens of these communities demand that this matter be addressed as a matter of urgency and respectfully request immediate intervention, as well as a clear and structured way forward.
Thank you
Carrie Grant Contact the author of the petition