Latest news with #Mashigo
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Long-term solution sought after sporadic outages leave Brooklyn residents enraged
The Tshwane metro is working to ensure speedy repairs and long-term infrastructure improvement on its secondary substations in Brooklyn, following sporadic outages. Residents in Brooklyn had to navigate life without electricity this week due to a power outage. Although the power has been restored, residents say they had to endure recurring outages, saying they were without power on Sunday as well as on the morning of July 23. Cobie Odendaal, a community member from Brooklyn, said the ongoing power disruptions affect thousands of people who depend on electricity to work, cook, and stay safe. 'The economic system comes to a standstill. People are losing electrical equipment. No fridge or tea,' she said. She said the uncertainty around power availability has disrupted her development work with children. 'I do a lot of my work online. If I don't have power or Wi-Fi, that work stops. People are frustrated.' Ward 56 Councillor Tiaan Dippenaar confirmed that this has become a weekly problem. 'The infrastructure is just not in a good state at all. It's a continuous cycle of no power, and the residents are extremely frustrated.' Dippenaar explained that while about 90% of affected properties had been reconnected by Tuesday evening, another explosion caused a fresh outage on Wednesday, plunging the entire ward into darkness again. 'They just come and fix, then leave again. And then it blows out, and they come and fix it again. We need to find the root cause and resolve it permanently.' The metro has confirmed that its teams responded to the first incident, identified multiple medium-voltage cable faults, and restored power to most of the area. According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the most recent outage was caused by a broken overhead line in Anderson Street, which has since been repaired. 'The metro acknowledges the frustration caused by repeated outages,' said Mashigo, adding that many of the faults affecting the Brooklyn area are the result of historical infrastructure damage. 'Some of the outages are linked to previous damage during Wi-Fi installations and the ongoing BRT project on Lynnwood Road. 'These factors, combined with ageing infrastructure, make the network vulnerable to unpredictable faults.' Mashigo noted that budget and human resource constraints have affected turnaround times in some cases, but reassured residents that the metro continues to prioritise critical repairs. Although no technical investigation has been launched into this week's incidents specifically, Mashigo confirmed that regular network inspections and condition assessments are ongoing across Tshwane. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Outages worsen amid equipment shortages, staff go-slow
Waterkloof Ridge residents recently faced a 12-day power outage, with some expressing outrage over the Tshwane metro's delayed response and poor communication throughout. According to residents, electricity was first lost on June 25 in parts of Waterkloof Ridge Ext 2, particularly along Aquila Avenue. While power was eventually restored earlier this month, frustrations continue to mount over what residents describe as a sluggish and inefficient repair process. The metro explained that the complexity of the fault made it more difficult for technicians to locate the problem, which led to the extended power outage in the area. Ward 42 Councillor Shane Maas, who actively escalated the issue on behalf of affected residents, said the delay was worsened by the metro depot not having the proper equipment to locate the damaged cable. He explained that the depot lacked a diagnostic tool known as a 'mega' and had to borrow it from another depot before repairs could move forward. Maas confirmed this detail after engaging with both metro staff and concerned residents. 'I escalated it daily from the second day up until it was eventually fixed,' he said. He also pointed out that this was not an isolated case. 'There's currently another resident with a similar issue who hasn't had power for 27 days. Technicians came, identified a cable fault, and then left. It appears they now need a mega again to locate the fault. The cycle just repeats.' Maas said the average turnaround time for electrical faults has worsened significantly and is now around three days, although in some cases, residents are being left without electricity for several weeks. He noted that councillors are often expected to act as operational managers, despite having no authority over metro departments. 'Residents think I have a team of electricians or a budget to control. But all I can do is keep pushing department managers and hope someone finally takes action.' He added that the situation is further complicated by a go-slow protest by metro staff in response to overtime compensation disputes. 'They're not responding with urgency or using proper fault-finding techniques. That also frustrates us as councillors and frustrates residents too.' According to Maas, residents do not know the limits of a ward councillor's role. 'They assume we have all the power, but we don't. We make submissions to the IDP [Integrated Development Plan] and vote on the budget in council. That's where it ends.' Tshwane metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, confirmed that the outage was caused by multiple cable faults. 'Due to the complexity of the fault, it took longer than usual for the team to locate and repair it,' said Mashigo. He confirmed that once the fault was identified, power was restored in the area. Mashigo added that the outage was linked to fibre installation work that had damaged power infrastructure. According to Mashigo, the metro has strengthened its due diligence processes to ensure that contractors comply with regulations when installing such infrastructure. He also stated that the metro continues to communicate service interruptions through its official platforms and encouraged residents to report faults online or through the city's customer care line. 'Residents are encouraged to report complaints through our Customer Care Centre or online, and also through their ward councillors for escalation.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane metro pushes Lynnwood BRT contractor for revised timelines
An update on the progress of the long-awaited Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) line 2c project, which began in May 2023 and has been plagued by delays, is expected next week. Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the project has not yet been completed due to safety concerns and conflicting statements between the metro and its contractor. 'The city is awaiting the revised programme from the contractor, and the date for completion will be communicated once it is finalised,' Mashigo said. The line is designed to extend the existing A Re Yeng BRT service to Mamelodi, and as of mid-July, just over 90% of the work has been completed, according to the metro. Mashigo explained that the latest delays stem from challenges in the delivery of materials to the site, for which the city holds the contractor responsible. 'There have been delays in the delivery of materials due to challenges on the contractor's side,' he said. He confirmed that penalties have been imposed on the contractor, as part of measures to enforce accountability for the missed deadlines. Mashigo added that, while there have been no additional costs directly linked to the multiple deadline extensions, the initial extension to replace a section of pipeline did result in increased costs. 'The value of the contract increased from R123-million to R139.9-million following the pipe replacement,' Mashigo explained. One of the issues flagged earlier this year was outstanding design approval for a pipeline section, which previously stalled progress on the project. Mashigo confirmed that the metro has since granted conditional approval, but a few comments still need to be addressed before final sign-off. Motorists may still encounter minor disruptions as traffic accommodation remains in place for safety reasons on Lynnwood Road. In response to complaints from motorists about rubble, broken barriers, and safety hazards on site, Mashigo said the metro continues to address these issues through its contractor. 'Instructions have been issued to the contractor upon receiving complaints through the community liaison officer,' he said. He noted that a physical audit verification was conducted in June to assess the site, and there were no issues identified as the contractor was actively working on site and previous audit findings had been addressed. Mashigo said the metro remains committed to completing the BRT project and ensuring residents benefit from safe, efficient transport infrastructure. 'We are monitoring the project closely and will continue to implement corrective measures where necessary to avoid further delays,' he said. He emphasised the importance of balancing progress with public safety and cost control as work nears its conclusion. In June, contractor Buhle Shabalala disputed claims of worker payment delays, insisting all workers had been fully compensated. He pointed to heavy rains and delayed design approvals from the metro as primary reasons for the missed deadlines. 'It's not true that there were extensions due to non-payment of workers. All of my workers on site are paid,' said Shabalala. 'The delays were due to the time it took to get design approvals and changes in scope.' He also denied allegations of site neglect. Shabalala said rubble was cleared daily and broken barriers had been replaced after storm damage earlier this year. DA councillor Dikeledi Selowa acknowledged that the project was back on track but stressed the importance of improved project management and oversight. 'The issue is poor project management within the metro. These ongoing extensions beyond the initial contract period can potentially lead to extra, unforeseen expenses,' Selowa said. At that stage, she said visible progress had been made and that workers' wages were no longer in dispute. Selowa urged the metro to ensure contractors adhered to their obligations, particularly regarding site safety and timely completion. Residents and motorists in the area are encouraged to remain patient as the metro works with the contractor to finalise outstanding items and prepare for the project's full handover in the coming months. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Wolwespruit wetland cleared after 20-year standoff
Tshwane metro, in collaboration with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), is exploring ways to secure and rehabilitate the Wolwespruit wetland area after the removal of squatters. On July 11, the metro completed the long-delayed relocation of illegal occupants from the environmentally sensitive Wolwespruit wetland, on the corner of Solomon Mahlangu Drive and Delmas Road. The move has been hailed by various political parties and civil rights organisations as a critical step in resolving a 20-year-old environmental and legal standoff that has hindered development in surrounding areas. According to Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, 70 verified South African nationals have now been resettled at Pienaarspoort Ext 22, 23, and 25. These residents were part of a larger group of about 300 illegal squatters who had been occupying the wetland area for nearly two decades. Mashigo said the remaining individuals, identified as foreign nationals, were cleared from the area, and the land has since been handed over to the PIC, which owns several adjacent properties. He said the area is an environmentally sensitive area, which will not be developed immediately. However, any future developments would require comprehensive environmental assessments. 'For now, the city's priority is to preserve and protect the space,' Mashigo stated. ActionSA's Tshwane caucus spokesperson, Henriette Frohlich, welcomed the successful eviction and relocation, citing that the intervention should pave the way for increased property development in areas such as Erasmuskloof, Moreleta Park, and Mooikloof. 'The city has demonstrated commitment to resolving this long-standing crisis, and identifying permanent stands was essential to restoring dignity to the affected residents,' Frohlich said. She said the first eviction notices were issued in November 2021, after a 2020 census recorded 192 households at the site: 110 South African, 67 Basotho, and 15 Zimbabwean nationals. 'Legal attempts to relocate the community date back to July 2022, but were delayed by court challenges and opposition from human rights groups.' She said despite early resistance, the city eventually secured a court-ordered eviction, and relocation efforts resumed earlier this year, culminating in the recent clearance of the area. AfriForum welcomed the successful relocation of illegal squatters, who have occupied the wetland in Erasmuskloof, near Wolwespruit, for years. This follows the organisation's submission of a full report on the impact of these illegal dwellings on the city earlier this year. The civil rights organisation said the occupation of this area has caused serious problems such as an increase in crime, cable theft, and pollution. According to them, all of this has been exacerbated by ongoing illegal recycling and dumping. 'This has damaged the environment almost beyond repair. However, efforts have now begun to rehabilitate this area. Although there are still illegal squatters camping outside the site in Nossob Street and Solomon Mahlangu Drive, the Department of Human Settlements has undertaken to relocate them soon.' ALSO READ: Wolwespruit wetland secured, illegal squatters evicted Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Glitch blocks access to online Tshwane services
The Tshwane metro has announced that it is currently experiencing technical issues affecting both its e-Tshwane online platform and the Tshwane Mobile App. Due to this fault, customers have been unable to access several essential municipal services since July 17. Metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, said the disruption began as a result of a faulty network connection between the city's internal network system and the e-Tshwane platform. This has also impacted access to the new mobile app. The city's technicians are currently attending to the matter with the aim of restoring the digital services as soon as possible.' He said in the meantime, several functions remain affected. 'This includes the submission of meter readings and clearance certificate applications, both of which will be queued for submission once the system is back online,' said Mashigo. He noted that residents have also been unable to log service queries or reports on either the online portal or the app, as reference numbers are not being generated. 'This includes the I Want to Report Service function.' Mashigo added that other affected services include account balance enquiries via the Get Balance feature, the New Applications Processing System (NAPS) GIS web services, and the submission and processing of building plans. 'The city apologises for the inconvenience caused to the affected customers,' he said. LISTEN: Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
