MyPE

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F*ck Regular Maintenance, We Prefer Capital Projects

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I have a good friend (recently deceased) who, for many years, worked at the Municipality in the Electricity Department.

For many years we would discuss the well functioning electricity department and the many characters involved there during the ‘good old days’.

One of the glaring missing Standard Operating Procedures that Tony alerted me too again and again was the regular maintenence that the electricity department subjected sub stations and pump rooms to. A team of municipal employees had the sole job of visiting each of these on a regular basis and checking the locks, mowing the grass, sweeping the insides, painting and varnishing where necessary, removing weeds, fixing cracks, visually, electrically and mechanically inspecting switchgear, topping up or replacing transformer oil and making sure that everything was shipshape and in good order.

I stand under correction but can not recall one substation that blew up during this time. Whereas in recent years we have had many fail, blow up, ‘grow’ illegal connections or be vandalised.

In addition – the Municipality used to have their own alarm monitoring control room (just behind the present supply chain offices in Harrower Road) with alarms in each substation and pump room.

Go on, I dare you, pop into an open substation and have a look at the sad state of the equipment, dirt on the floor, grass jungles outside, cracks in the equipment, stench of burning thin transmission oil, weeds in the gutters and bedding being stored for tonights sleep.

Has our municipality forgotten that preventative maintenance is actually a GOOD investment?

OR, is the lack of maintenance a twisted plot to ensure that CAPITAL projects are the preferred option for those who feed at the trough?

Go On – Share the Gqeberha Love!

Views Since 15 July 2022: 45

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.