The power of collaboration has never been more evident than in the success of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Adopt-A-Substation initiative. Today marks the second anniversary of the Struandale Geographic Cluster’s adoption of the Matomela, KwaFord, Struandale, and Swartkops substations – an initiative that has ensured that during this period, the area has not been subjected to a vandalism related power outage.
Angus Clark, Chairperson of the Struandale Geographic Cluster says that by coming together as the business community, they have demonstrated how much can be achieved when local businesses unite for a common purpose. “The collaboration between businesses, service providers and local authorities has created a powerful model for safeguarding critical infrastructure and fostering long-term economic growth.”
As one of the first areas to take action under the Adopt-A-Substation initiative, the Struandale Geographic Cluster has set an example for others to follow. Since officially adopting the four substations in 2023, not a single report of power outages caused by theft or vandalism has been recorded. This success has been achieved as a result of the Cluster’s dedication to securing vital power infrastructure, which is critical for the smooth operation of local businesses in their area.
Key to this achievement has been the implementation of robust security measures, including perimeter fencing, 24-hour armed patrols through an Atlas Security vehicle, and the installation of high-tech security cameras monitored around the clock. The financial support of the Cluster’s members, who contribute monthly to the initiative, ensures the ongoing monitoring of CCTV systems and continued protection for the next three years.
Clark further emphasised the importance of collaboration between business and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber as being pivotal in protecting our local infrastructure. “By taking a proactive approach, we’ve created a safer environment for businesses to thrive. The success of this initiative proves that when we come together with a shared goal, we can create sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.”
The Struandale Geographic Cluster’s efforts are part of a broader effort, initiated through the Chamber’s Electricity Task Team, to safeguarding vital electricity infrastructure. Launched in 2022 with a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Chamber, the Adopt-A-Substation initiative now encompasses 20 substations across the Metro. The programme enables businesses to deploy monitoring and surveillance measures to prevent disruptions to power supply, contributing to a more stable and reliable environment in which business can operate.
Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, said, “The success of this initiative highlights the importance of local businesses actively getting involved in helping to solve challenges, so that much needed investment and employment can be retained in our metro. By adopting a proactive, solution-focused approach, we are placing the focus on the issues and the types of solutions which are required to ensure stability in the operating environment. This fosters a spirit of collaboration and also puts the spotlight on the need for urgent action to be taken by the various stakeholders to ensure that vital electricity infrastructure is protected from the scourge of vandalism.
She further highlights that local businesses have demonstrated their commitment to continuing to operate in the Bay through interventions such as Adopt-A-Substation and Adopt-A-Leak, and the establishment of 11 geographic clusters around the Bay. “Instead of just complaining from the sidelines, our business community is rolling up its sleeves and taking action. This however does not mean that we want to take over the work of government. We need the local authorities to be capacitated to develop and implement clear action plans to protect and maintain electricity, water and sanitation and road infrastructure. As a business community, we are willing to collaborate and provide technical expertise which will help address enabling environment issues.
