By Annisa Essack
17:06:2021

The bane of load-shedding usually brings schooling to a standstill in South Africa. But, for the residents, businesses, and schools in the lower parts of the Pietermaritzburg CBD, cable theft and vandalism was an added issue. Moreover, due to the robberies, the power outages left the community without power for up to 30 hours at a time.

Since last Friday, Nizamia Islamic School, in Masukwana Street, has been struggling with power outages. School principal, Mr Mohammed Saeed, says that most students attending the school live in and around the institution, causing them to either miss school or arrive late.

The school, located on the main route that leads into and out of the city, is prone to traffic jams when traffic lights switch off during power outages.

Mr Saeed added that Grade 12 students were affected as they had to attend open university days via Zoom due to the pandemic lockdown rules. Still, the outages mean that they lose out on the opportunity to participate.

He further added that as the outages were intermittent, teaching and learning was disrupted frequently, and he was now concerned that the outages would affect the upcoming exams and assessments.

Saeed said that the cold temperatures experienced it was challenging because temperatures were low in the morning, and the weather was cold.

Residents living in the Manor area and lower central business district are fed up with the constant cable theft on the Ohrtmann Road bridge. On Monday night, thieves damaged the electrical supply, leaving people without power for around 23 hours.

However, despite the culprits being caught red-handed by the Manor Neighbourhood Watch (MNW), the residents say the police have not made an arrest. Suraya Reddy, Ward Councillor, noted that the perpetrator was not arrested because “due to him not holding any stolen item in his hand”. Instead, the suspect was ushered into an ambulance by the SAPS to get medical attention.

Msunduzi Deputy Mayor, Manilal Inderjit, said this was a new trend during load-shedding as the conditions were perfect for thieves to steal cables.

“I have called in the municipal manager, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to come out with me and lay charges … criminals seem to have more privileges in our country than taxpayers. It’s very frustrating for everyone right now,” Reddy said.

With the municipality under financial strain, the constant targeting of the cables on the bridge has cost Msunduzi thousands of rands. And resident has also been left counting the costs of the blackouts. Some have had to throw out food, defrosted in their fridges, while others have had to repair or replace damaged appliances.

Reddy said: “Residents are frustrated and fed-up. They are at their wit’s end and are planning to take over the site.”

The residents have sent a letter to the municipality’s infrastructure and electricity departments informing them that once the repair is completed on the bridge, local business people, together with the community, plan to cover that area with cement or tar and to pay for a private security company to monitor the site.

On Tuesday morning, residents discovered that the Woodburn substation was opened, and the locks had taken. A local business in the area replaced the locks and have placed a security team on-site to monitor the site. Municipality workers wishing to gain access will now be required to do so via the security team.

“For now, this is the best plan we can offer our community to safeguard the substation.”