For more than six weeks the Schloesser family and their neighbours have been living with trenches outside their homes that have been left unattended by what is believed to be a City Power subcontractor.
“A trench was dug on the pavement outside my house. Although there has been zero notification about the reason for this, I have made the assumption that they are putting in extra street lights (like they have done in Randpark Ridge),” explained resident Tracy Schloesser. Schloesser said while it is a welcome upgrade to their area, she fails to see why the trench was dug and then abandoned for what has now been six weeks and counting.
“It is an inconvenience,” said Schloesser. “I recently had people over for a braai and fortunately one couple cancelled, otherwise they would have had to have parked on a neighbour’s verge.” Safety concerns were also raised: The trenches go all the way up to Weltevreden Primary School. “What happens if one of the many school children that walk home falls into the hole and breaks a limb? Will City Power take responsibility?” asked a concerned Schloesser.
DA Ward 126 councillor Mike Tonkin said he was aware of the trenches but he has no idea what they are for. “The problem that I have is that the municipality and their entities (City Power and Joburg Water) never inform councillors when they begin working in our areas, we just see things happening,” said Tonkin.
Tonkin has on numerous occasions requested that City Power and Joburg Water inform councillors as to when and how maintenance will be carried out, so they can inform the community.
According to City Power spokesperson Sol Masolo, City Power dug the trenches with the aim of laying cables. “We are currently laying cables in the area and should close the trenches and complete the job by th end of t oday (Monday 26 August),” said Masolo.
