Selfless Bayland patrols curb electricity disruptions to Gqeberha – NMBM

Trudging rocky and bushy
terrain under the cover of darkness every night until 4am, the motley army of
Bayland residents, who have been patrolling the Chatty electricity substation
since March, are a shining example of the true meaning of ubuntu.

Despite not having
electricity themselves, their diligence and tenacity as a volunteer
neighbourhood watch outfit started when the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and
the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber joined hands to curb the vandalism of
municipal infrastructure.

When there is no
Eskom-induced loadshedding, every single suburb in Gqeberha including all
hospitals and emergency facilities, enjoy the fruits of the labour of the
twenty-two member Baylander patrols.

“That is not the only
benefit,” says Bayland Community leader, Theo Malahle.

“Since we started with
our patrols, the murder rate dropped drastically in our area as well.”

Timothy Hendricks, president
of the Nelson Mandela Bay District Business Community Police Forum, said the
community immediately agreed with the idea when they were approached in March.

“Four days after our
first meeting, we also managed to get a soup kitchen up and running with the
help of Despatch Spar. We are now feeding more than 200 people every Thursday
and would like to increase the frequency to help more people.

“We are in the process
of delivering firewood to the community as they do not have electricity and
managed to get AutoX on board to provide safety equipment for the Bayland
community,” Timothy Hendricks said.

Previously known as
Willard Batteries, AutoX, stepped up to the plate and donated handcuffs,
two-way radios, bibs, batons, torches as well as coffee and sugar to the value
of R15 000.

Keith Prinsloo, from
AutoX, said they were eager to help because of the important role the residents
from Bayland are playing to ensure the main electricity substation is not
vandalised.

“It is the least we can
do,” he added.

At the handover of the
equipment on Thursday, Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk, flanked by Member of
the Mayoral Committee for Safety and, Security Stag Mitchell and Speaker of
Council, Eugene Johnson, said the municipality will come to the table to
provide solutions for the Bayland community.

“This community
personifies ubuntu. To safeguard the electricity supply for others, while you
have nothing yourselves, is demonstrating what selflessness really means.

“We owe this community
so much more than just gratitude.

“I am embarrassed to hand
over equipment that the private sector donated without bringing anything from
the municipality. We will return shortly to rectify this,” said Mayor Van
Niekerk after merely 9 days in the top job.

Chatty is the main
electricity substation from where Eskom supply is distributed to other main
substations to supply Gqeberha with electricity.

Cable theft is almost a
daily occurrence and regularly causes disruption to the electricity supply.

#13;

Issued on behalf of the
Office of the Executive Mayor by Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780
2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron).