The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg notes with great concern the announcement by City Power Subcontractors Association (CPSA) on 7 April that they will down their tools.
The decision to cease work extends beyond surface understanding; in Johannesburg, the relationship between water and electricity is intertwined. When electricity supply falters, water provision soon follows suit. The residents of CoJ have endured significant hardships. Though the reliance on contractors has long been a point of contention, it is recognised that until City Power sufficiently trains and equips its internal workforce, contractors will play a vital role in maintaining service standards. Nevertheless, the persistent occurrence of outages within the city necessitates immediate and decisive action for resolution.
In light of the above, we will write to City Power to seek urgent answers and clarity on the following matters:
1. What immediate measures is City Power undertaking to address the pressing issue of downed tools, particularly given the entity’s current negative financial standing?
2. What is the contingency plan to ensure that power outages are promptly addressed and resolved, and that residents continue to receive the services they pay for?
3. Are the allegations concerning inflated and unfair material costs substantiated, and if so, what steps are being taken to rectify these practices?
4. Do the unfair pricing practices relate to the quality of work failing, necessitating expensive repeat visits?
5. Cable theft increases when electricity fails, what measures have been put in place to mitigate this massive risk?
6. What process does City Power use to appoint contractors?
It is imperative that the Executive and the CPSA address these issues promptly to mitigate the impact on residents and restore confidence in the service delivery mechanisms.
We have constantly made it known to the Mayor and the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services (EIC) that failing to address City Power’s financial woes, while allowing aging infrastructure to regress could cripple the City.
City Power has been doing the same, raising alarms with the executive to no avail. We sincerely hope the Executive Mayor will not treat this matter with kid gloves but rather with urgency the matter requires.