24 November 2009
Johannesburg — As Johannesburg gears up for 2010, increased numbers of power outtages are showing up what residents' say is the council's inability to deal with what could become a crisis.
According to residents, various parts of Johannesburg have experienced prolonged power failures over the last fortnight.
According to council officials, the outtages have been caused by neglect or substations, and cable damage and theft.
In some cases suburbs have been without power for 48 hours.
Last month suburbs in the East of Johannesburg in the Ekhurhuleni council area reported outtages lasting seven days and forced that council into what's called an "emergency upgrade" at Dalview substation knocking out power to Brakpan, Dalview and Kenlea.
"Emergency Upgrade" means the council allows a piece of hardware to fail, then fixes it instead of maintaining existing capex.
It's a cash-saving technique that leaves residents without power.
The suburbs reportedly experiencing ongoing problems now include Craighall Park, Rosebank, Lenasia, Soweto and Central areas.
A spokesman for city power says various things have caused the failure of the network in various areas.
Generators which are usually delivered to problem areas have not appeared, and residents say thousands of rands worth of food is now rotting in warm refrigerators.
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