Organised business in Gqeberha, mobilised close to R1 million for security upgrades, to protect electricity installation.
This follows repeated vandalism of the Swartkops Substation, which left businesses in Deal Party and Struandale, without electricity.
The last ordeal lasted for an estimated 13-hours, without electricity.
The Ezethu Development Trust, the initiative’s largest contributor, then donated R500,000 towards security upgrades.
Odwa Mtati, Chairman of the Ezethu Development Trust, said the contribution was driven by an understanding of the significant hardship caused by the ongoing power disruptions and the need for practical interventions to protect businesses and livelihoods.
But Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, says the intervention reinforces the urgent need for the municipality to take decisive responsibility to safeguard critical infrastructure across the metro by deploying adequate surveillance, monitoring, fencing and other vital support.
“There is an important distinction between business supporting solutions and having to assume responsibility for protecting public infrastructure. Our members are prepared to contribute to a better-functioning metro, but they cannot be expected to continually fund the protection of municipal assets. The municipality must fulfil its responsibility.”
Picture from left: Angus Clarke (Chamber Technical Electricity Lead), Aphiwe Mbade (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality), Duwayne Varnfield (Struandale Business Cluster Chairperson), Ncubeko April (Isuzu Motors South Africa) and Quintin Kruse (Struandale Business Cluster Vice-chairperson). At the back is Alan Shone (Deal Party Business Cluster Management Committee member).