Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Themba Fosi, here
Early this morning, a fire broke out at the Tshwane Pyramid Substation, impacting the Rooiwal Water Works Substation, the SAR Substation, and the Rooiwal town area. I conducted an oversight visit in the aftermath of the incident, where it was discovered that the locks had been forcibly cut, and the door was broken. Most alarmingly, the control panel cables had been cut, and the communication system vandalized—two critical instruments designed to prevent such fires.
This is a blatant act of sabotage. And It is evident that the damage inflicted on the substation was not accidental but a premeditated effort to cause destruction. Such malicious actions directly impact service delivery to our residents and undermine the stability of our city’s infrastructure.
The DA Tshwane Caucus is particularly concerned about the potential motive behind this sabotage. When substations burn down, there are contractors who stand to gain financially from the subsequent repair and reconstruction work. The political vacuum created by last week’s Motion of No Confidence appears to have signalled to many that Tshwane’s coffers are once again open for looting.
I have written to the City Manager to urgently request a thorough investigation into this incident. It is critical that those responsible are held accountable and that any collusion between contractors and potential saboteurs is fully uncovered. We will not tolerate criminality in our city, and we are committed to ensuring that Tshwane’s infrastructure is safeguarded from those who seek to profit from its destruction.