SIPHELELE NDZAMELA
THERE is confusion over who is responsible for maintaining the high mast lights in Nemato since a contract with the municipality’s previous service provider ended a few months ago.
A concerned resident, who did not want to be named, told TotT a high mast light in Ruleni Drive had not been working for weeks and no efforts had been made to repair it.
She felt the lack of light encouraged crime in the area.
"We hardly sleep at night because we hear gunshots and there have incidents of rape as well as mugging of people within the area,” she said.
She said she had reported the matter to the municipality on numerous occasions and yet nothing has been done about it.
She also contacted Manelec, which used to maintain the high mast lights, and was told that the tender was awarded to another service provider.
"I have even tried calling the mayor on numerous occasions, and I recently heard that Ndlambe Electrical is responsible for fixing lights in that area,” said the concerned resident.
Ncedisile Naika, owner of Ndlambe Electrical, said he needed to get the go-ahead from the municipality in order to start working.
Director of infrastructural development, Xolani Masiza, said: "A normal procurement procedure needs to be done before giving the heads-up to the service providers because there are many areas that also have the same problem.
"Thereafter service providers will then be notified to start working on those lights,” added Masiza.
The tender was originally awarded to Manelec, which was responsible for the whole Ndlambe area in maintaining and fixing the high mast lights.
Manelec manager Popeye Steyn said after their contract ended three months ago the municipality continued to request their services when they needed them.
Steyn said he suggested to the municipality to rather make the contract lease longer so that when problems are reported they would be attended to immediately.
"On Monday I received a call from Xolani Masiza about the high mast light and he requested an overall quote to fix all the areas,” said Steyn.