MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Tourism Destination ‘Celebrates’ 37 Days With No Electricity and Counting

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  • Should the EFF or Council take the blame for this monumental blow to our tourism offering?
  • Electricity and Energy AND Infrsatructure and Engineering are portfolios under the oversight of the EFF in Nelson Mandela Bay
  • Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture is under the oversight of the PA
  • Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture services are under the oversight of the PAC

On Saturday 6 January 2023 we popped on over to the SAAF Museum with 4 youngsters in tow. (See HERE)

Staffed and run by volunteers the SAAF Museum is a fascinating look into South Africa’s aviation past with many aircraft from the wars we have taken part in along with fascinating stories from the era.

Unfortunately when we were there we were unable to properly see areas such as the Uniform Display and Don Bell’s library of paintings as, SO WE THOUGHT, we had arrived during a time of loadshedding.

Without electricity the school going volunteers have been reduced to just cleaning the dust off of the long term Airspeed Oxford restoration – one of only 8 in the world and the only one with running engines – both 7 cylinder radial Cheetah engines are in a running condition, however they do not run on the aircraft itself.

BUT, after chatting to the staff there we were informed that they had been 37 days without electricity due to a cable fault.

Apparently the old paper and lead electricity cable had finally expired after many years and, the SAAF Museum being at the end of the line were basicallty the only property affected and without electricity.

Of course the solution is ‘problematic’ as the building is administered/owned by the Public Works Department, leased to the Airforce and staffed by volunteers. The bill is paid by PWD so the staff who are directly affected have no ‘power’ to demand that the municipality attend to the problem.

RESULT: For the better part of our tourism season (such as it was) this tourist attraction was in darkness.

FRANKLY: It would appear that between the four Mayoral Committe Positions held by the EFF, PAC and PAA there may be an opportunity for buck passing on a monumental scale as each blames the other for the lack of attention to the econimic wellbeing of our city.

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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.