In the latest spate of electricity challenges, the Komani community took to the streets on Tuesday to protest power outages caused by the damaged Queendustria transformer which was struck by lightning on Friday 22 January.
After the power went out on Friday, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) reported that the damage needed to be assessed, and that they could not do so on that day. On Saturday they reported that the transformer had been assessed, and that it could still be used but needed to be reconditioned by an external specialist as they do have one in their employ.
On Monday 25 January the municipality said they had found a Johannesburg based specialist, and promised that they would be on site by midday on the 26th. By 16:00 on Tuesday the specialist was still not in Komani.
This agitated community members as they were not getting any concrete communication from the municipality except for Facebook posts, which they could no longer access due to most of their mobile devices also being out of power. Ward councillors and the Mayor were nowhere to be seen.
Scenes from the Komani Residents’ Power Outage Protest
“The only updates we were provided were from the communications department and the control room. I called the control room on 25 January and was told that they were on site draining oil and things were looking positive,” said Border-Kei Chamber of Business’s Komani Administrator Adre Bartis.
Bartis also added that she had gone to the site to take pictures, but upon arriving at the site, no one was there and no work was being done. The EMLM’s communications department denied that she had been informed of any work being done, even though local media and community had gotten the same information.
An update posted on Tuesday afternoon on the Municipality’s Facebook page read: “The service provider (specialist) is still on the way and has not yet arrived at the site. Work will commence on arrival of the specialist. The Municipality pleads for patience from all affected community members.”
The Komani office of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business engaged with the municipality, but could not get any concrete feedback. Local Businesses were willing to assist with generators, but that solution quickly became an issue as the logistics of transporting the generators, as well as filling them with fuel did not seem viable.
“We looked into a mobile transformer but this was too small to assist with the current issues. We were asked to be patient and to call the control room regularly for updates, which we did daily. Our FB page and the administrator’s Facebook page was updated daily as per the information received from the municipality,” said Bartis.
The community strike caused havoc in the area as it saw the 4-ways to Ezibeleni being closed, with residents preventing vehicles from coming in and out. This meant that taxis had to stop there and the elderly had to walk into the location. Residents were also asking who would pay for their food which was damaged due to there being no electricity.
Komani residents are no strangers to the power problems they face currently, and claims are that it could have been avoided.
In 2020 the Municipality bought a new transformer for the Unathi Mkefa area. However, this transformer was problematic and it was returned to the manufacturer in Johannesburg. They repaired it with no cost to the municipality and it was returned and installed by the local municipality. The transformer gave issues for a second time and returned to the manufacturer again.
The manufacturer confirmed that the problem was not on their side and that the local municipality had to sort a few issues out on their side before they would return the transformer.
The transformer failed because the phases were not properly balanced and there was no downstream protection.
Local beverages manufacturer, Twizza, brought in their consultant to assist with testing. The quote they obtained was to rectify the problem and to bring the installation up to Eskom standards. However, the municipality did not follow the consultant’s advice. Instead, they linked the Unathi Mkefa line with that of Queendustria causing tremendous strain on the transformer in Queendustria.
The constant outages can be resolved by returning the Unathi Mkefa transformer and to reduce the strain on the Queendustria transformer.
To keep updated on these issues, members are advised to follow BKCOB’s various social media platforms and website.
We, the undersigned civil society activist groups, leading business Chamber and Forums, faithbased communities and informal farming groups in Komani/Queenstown of the Eastern Cape publicly call on those in our town, and beyond, to donate to a local food security campaign as part of the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This food security campaign aims to mobilise grassroot people’s responses to the Covid-19 crisis and to the growing signs of hunger among citizens throughout these three areas. There are clear signs that many of our people are in distress and facing hunger due to the national lockdown declared by the President, forcing them into a position of being without a salary.
This campaign will strengthen the collaborative partnership among civic organisations at all levels to meet the daily food needs of people in communities during the lockdown period.
These civic organisations fall under the Let’s Talk Komani umbrella, representing all races and religions.
We call all residents, and especially arge businesses, foundations, educational institutions and faith-based organisations to extend a helping hand and generously share as much as you can.
Give what you can and let’s raise R178 000 by 12 April for 500 food packs that will be distributed by well known civic associations (not politicians) to the most vulnerable families in Ezibeleni, Mlungisi and Lesseyton in the week of 14-19 April 2020. You can follow the progress on Let’s Talk Komani’s Facebook page
We urge our people to open their hearts to the plight of the poor and hungry and to give selflessly to those in need in this hour of human solidarity and compassion. Let’s do all we can to help our people!
Border-Kei Chamber of Business
Muslim Community of Komani
Black Management Forum Eastern Cape
Komani Church Leaders Forum
Komani Foreign Nationals Forum
Queenstown Education Foundation
Phakamisa Business Forum
Farmer in the Enoch Mgijima area
Queenstown Civic & Ratepayers Association
Komani Residents’ Association
Basic Services Group Komani
VANS Community Group
Various Public figures
Endorsed by:
We aim to hand out 500 food parcels that include substantial dry goods and fresh vegetables to boost the immune system.
We have collaborated with local food producers and manufacturers (including farmers), retailers’ distribution centres and a network of trust-worthy community volunteers in each of those areas to get food and hand soap flowing to those who need it most.
Reaching our target will mean that we will be providing nutrition and increased safety to a family in communities whose elderly are vulnerable and whose children normally rely on school feeding schemes for meal support.
By donating, these families will still be able to eat even as our economy recovers from the Covid19 lockdown.
Let’s Talk Komani will spend your donation on:• Buying food at discounted prices (samp, rice, flour, beans, sugar, tea, oil and fresh vegetables• Administration (with photo reports) of the distribution channels in Ezibeleni, Mlungisi, Lesseyton and the VANS area.
Last night Let’s Talk Komani (LTK), the umbrella organisation representing members of Komani’s well-established civil associations, refused the request of the Eastern Cape Premier and his Cabinet to drop its court case aimed at dissolving the corrupt Council of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
There is a high likelihood that municipal salaries and Eskom accounts may not be paid this month due to the municipality’s inability to bill for services and collect outstanding revenue. The crisis of the municipality has been clearly outlined in its latest 2018/2019 audited annual financial statements which reveal unauthorized, irregular and wasteful expenditure of a staggering R894 million.
MEC of COGTA Mr Nqata, chaired the meeting with LTK which included members of the EMLM’s Council as well as a member from nation treasury and SALGA. The Premier, who was supposed to lead the delegation, tendered his apologies.
It followed a morning of service delivery protests on the Whittlesea road entrance into Komani. It was also a day before the National office of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (COGTA) needed to file its replying affidavit to LTK’s charges against it, and other organs of the state.
LTK’s executive includes representatives from the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, the Black Management Forum, the Komani Residents’ Association (KORA), the Queenstown Civic Ratepayers Association, an organised Farmers’ group, the Queenstown Education Foundation and the Phakamisa Business Forum. Its signed-up members include the Komani Church Leaders Forum, the Muslim community leadership and the Community Policing Forum.
LTK argued that the Enoch Council has failed to fulfil its constitutional mandate, and has been complicit in corruption and is totally derelict in delivering on its duty to serve the community of Komani, formerly known as Queenstown.
Despite overwhelming and damning evidence that the EM Council has brought the municipality, home to over 267 000 residents, into an advanced state of total collapse, COGTA and the Premier of the Eastern Cape fails to hold the Council accountable for the decimation of the Municipality and all its structures.
The resulting lack of business confidence is halting job creation and youth unemployment is at an all-time high.
In the course of the introductions at last night’s meeting LTK requested the Office of the Premier, in attendance, to withdraw its false media statement published in a press release on 6th March, claiming there is an existing signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties. Mr Nqata agreed to the point.
Instead of dissolving Council through invoking Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution, the EC Cabinet opted to again invoke Section 139 (1) (b) that would result in an Administrator once again being appointed, but this time supported by a turnaround team.
LTK reminded the delegation that the municipality is already under administration according to SALGA’s national office and that a court precedent already existed for a less serious application.
LTK reiterated its belief that there was a leadership crisis, a management crisis, and a credibility crisis at the Municipality and that civil society had lost faith in the Municipality’s ability to collect revenue. The Premier would need to take decisive steps to charge corrupt officials and re-skill the Municipality before it has any chance of restoring its legitimacy.
Last night’s meeting was the culmination of efforts of LTK members over a period of two and a half years period to engage government at various levels including The Office of the President, The Office of the Premier and SALGA, among others, to halt the collapse. During this time two Administrators have been appointed. Due to political interference they were unable to carry out their duty to implement a financial recovery plan.
The EMLM in the Chris Hani region is preparing for next year’s local bi-elections.
EMLM’s billing has declined from 79% to approximately 50%; the costs of its labour has increased to levels in excess of revenue collected (excluding revenue received from government grants); the debtors outstanding book has ballooned to R824 million; and the amounts due to Eskom increased from R40 million to almost R350 million at its peak.
MEC Nqata admitted there was common cause for the legal action. The fundamental difference in the approaches of the parties was the EC Government believes that it can fix the problems in a “business as usual” approach with some assistance, whereas LTK believes that this has already been tried and failed, and that the council needs to be disbanded as it has failed in its duty to uphold the constitution and its councillors are, in the word of Judge Stretch, “constitutional delinquents” and cannot be entrust with turning the municipality around.
The people who got us into this mess are not going to be able to get us out of the mess for obvious reason.
In light of the above LTK has no option but to continue with the court action it has initiated. We remain committed to working with all parties which have the genuine interest of all the citizens of EMLM at heart, and are prepared to take the difficult decisions required to restore this municipality to something residents from all four of its corners can be proud of.
Queenstown, 02 August 2019: “I have taken the lessons learnt in the classes provided by SANRAL and put them to practice on the job sites. I started as a Grade 1 CIDB SMME and today I am a Grade 5,” said Nomfuneko Bojana Matshoba.
Bojana Matshoba, owner of Mickey Mouse Trading, shared her journey with the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) during the Taking SANRAL to the People stakeholder engagement session held in Queenstown on Thursday, 25 July 2019.
The Taking SANRAL to the People stakeholder engagement session is aimed at promoting dialogue between the roads agency, all spheres of government, business fraternity, communities, emerging contractors and other key stakeholders that are affected by SANRAL projects.
“I have grabbed every opportunity that SANRAL has given me with both hands. It was not easy. I had to meet the criteria before being accepted into the learnership training programme. I started working as a general worker, being trained to become a supervisor and was placed at a bigger contractor’s site as an intern doing in service training in order for us to be competent supervisors. I am now able to do everything by myself from quantifying my BOQ, daily site diaries, costing measurements, payment certificates, monitor quality control, cost and production daily and making sure that I maintain my statutory obligation compliant at all times. I look forward to receiving my Grade 7 CIDB certification, on the SANRAL sub-contract job that I am currently busy with,” Bojana Matshoba said.
“I have invested in learning before earning because I knew that knowledge is power and it will make me succeed in this space of Civil Engineering industry and built environment,” she said.
SANRAL in the Eastern Cape manages a road network of 4 952 kilometres; this is 22% of its total 22 214 kilometres national road network. Since 2009, SANRAL has injected R33.3 billion in the Eastern Cape’s road network.
The roads agency has over 150 projects lined up in different parts of the province for the next 3 financial years (2019/20, 2020/21 & 2021/22). Some are in the planning phase, some in the design phase and some in the construction phase.
The Southern Region’s top 10 Capex projects (completed or ongoing) situated within Chris Hani District Municipality include:
• The R67 from Swart Kei River to Queenstown, situated in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, valued at over R400 million will commence in 2020.
• The construction of walkways to address safe and all-weather pedestrian mobility, as well as the upgrading of the R56 traversing through the towns of Indwe, Elliot Ugie and Maclear, in Emalahleni Local Municipality, valued at R635 million, has been completed.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality Mayor Luleka Gubhula said they were “humbled” by SANRAL hosting the stakeholder engagement in their jurisdiction. “We are truly humbled that towards the close of Mandela Month, SANRAL is hosting the leg of dialogue in Komani, a town strategically located at the centre of not only Enoch Mgijima, but the greater Chris Hani District,” she said.
“SANRAL leadership has faith in the potential that Komani and its surroundings has in the context of its Horizon 2030 Strategy. We too, wish to emphasize our faith in our potential for growth and meaningful transformation. We do so because of the friendly N6 route that positions Komani at the centre of the road network of the Eastern Cape, connecting all provinces in South Africa and about six countries in the SADC region,” said Mayor Gubhula.
SANRAL’s mandate also entails performing Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) of the road network. In this regard, the agency maintains several routes within Chris Hani District Municipality.
SANRAL’s major road infrastructure delivery projects in Chris Hani District include the upgrading of the R67 between Queenstown and Whittlesea, which has seen training of several candidate engineers, as well as skills development and transfer through Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) development programmes.
Part of the engagement was to inform stakeholders of ongoing projects and upcoming tenders.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager said, “SANRAL is committed to growing SMMEs in the road construction industry. It is important for us to support contractors from the beginning and provide them with the necessary training that will assist them when it comes to the tendering process as well,” said Peterson.
“This engagement is also for sharing our Horizon 2030 vision and transformation policy. Through our transformation policy, we promote inclusive participation by all stakeholders, ensure skills training, and the transfer of knowledge and experience to small construction businesses,” Peterson said.
– Ends –
Issued on behalf of SANRAL by Meropa Communications. For editorial content or additional information contact: pressoffice@nra.co.za
There are currently 2 issue leading to the lack of water distribution in Komani.
1.There is only one pump working at the substation that provides water to the entire Komani community. The 2nd pump will only be fixed on Monday, 5 August 2019. What this means is each area has water down time of 12 hours because they need to pump for each area. All the areas (E.G Top Town, Komani Park, Ezibeleni, Victoria Park, etc) will only get water for about 30min-2 hours per day until both pumps are working again.
2. The McEwen pump is constantly tripping and will only be fixed on Monday. The strike being on day 29 is not helping because the electricians of Enoch Mgijima is not readily available. When this pump trips it takes up to 4 hours to bring it back on board and almost 8 hours to fill up a sump again.
Residents of Komani please fill up water bottles or tanks as soon as you get water. Our low laying areas such as the CBD and Madeira Park would not be affected.
The lingering drought conditions around Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality and the entire CHDM has caused an abrupt drop in dam levels. The Waterdown dam in Whittlesea which currently serves as the only water source for Komani town is now at 41% full.
This water level drop is bound to warrant tighter water restrictions in both Komani and Whittlesea to ensure prolonged availability of water.
This problem is further exacerbated by electricity outages in the line supplying the McEwan’s pump-station which intermittently interrupts pumping, resulting in worse water outages in Komani, especially in high lying areas. CHDM is working with Enoch Mgijima LM to solve this technical problem.
Xonxa Dam Water Augmentation Project construction is complete, Infrastructure has been fully installed and testing of various components done, whilst hot commissioning commenced at the end of April.
However, some equipment failed pressure tests due to leaking flanges and valves on the pumping mains – repairs are still in progress.
Whilst the above mentioned repairs were undertaken, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) also started working on another project at the dam which
necessitated cut off of water supply to the Xonxa Pump station. This resulted in the suspension of all commissioning work until water supply is restored .
In the meantime, remedial activities such as tightening bolts and replacing damaged gaskets, strengthening communication link between the pump station and the
