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High numbers of Illegal Connections create high risk of fatalities or injuries

George has a very high number of Illegal/unauthorised connections that are connected to George Municipality electrical network. The Municipality has various electrification programmes in place to assist with the provision of basic services and yet, in the recent months the quantity of unauthorised connections has increased. The installations are dangerous and do not comply with any electricity standards. The Municipality infrastructure is not protected against these installations.

The following risks are present with these types of connections:
• Fires,
• Fatalities (particularly during wet weather),
• disabling injuries,
• overloading existing infrastructure – causing power outages ,
• Damage to property,
• quality of supply issues such as low voltage.

The connections are made to the following sections of the Municipal network:
• Low Voltage overhead or underground infrastructure
• Low voltage kiosk
• Miniature Substations etc.

In most cases the preventative measures in place to prevent unauthorised entry or access to the live equipment is vandalised or tampered with. The electrical leads used are not adequately insulated and there are live exposed wires in public spaces or surrounding areas. In the past members of the public have been injured or killed when making contact with such live exposed wires.

During repairs and maintenance on the Municipal network, there are sometimes illegal / unauthorised connections present, especially in the hotspots as identified (Thembalethu Zone 5– 9 and Pacaltsdorp). These incidents are reported to the Electrotechnical Services Theft and Vandalism section who are responsible to remove the unauthorised infrastructure. In this state it is unsafe to energise or work on municipal infrastructure and only once the unauthorised infrastructure is removed, is it possible to reinstate the power to all the affected customers. In some instances, no fault finding is possible due to the high presence of unauthorised infrastructure.

In all instances the power outage duration exceeds the municipal service level agreement, and this results in poor public perception and reduced service delivery. In some instances, Electrotechnical Distribution personnel are prohibited from carrying out their duties by the public residing in the area where the power disruption occurred. In a few cases, the exit routes are blockaded, and personnel are not permitted to leave the work site until the power is restored.

Applicable Legislation: OHS Act No 85 of 1993: Electrical Installation Regulations
Design and construction
(1) No person may authorise, design, install or permit or require the installation of an electrical installation, other than in accordance with a health and safety standard incorporated into these Regulations under section 44 of the Act.
(2) No person may use components within an electrical installation unless those components comply with the standards referred to in the relevant incorporated standard referred to in sub regulation (1), and proof of compliance shall be identifiable on the components or certification shall be available from the manufacturer or supplier of the materials or components in terms of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008 (Act 5 of 2008)
(3) Items of an electrical installation not covered by an incorporated health and safety standard, and the conductors between the point of supply and the point of control, shall be installed in accordance with the by-laws or regulations of the supplier concerned.

Electrical contractor
(1) No person may do electrical installation work as an electrical contractor unless that person has been registered as an electrical contractor in terms of these Regulations.

This public announcement is therefore a plea to the communities of George to refrain from tampering, vandalising, interfering and / or connecting to the Municipal electrical infrastructure as there are high risks involved, especially to the safety of the public.
Report illegal connections on 044 801 9222/044 803 9222 or 044 801 6300 (a/h).
Report people making illegal connections on 0860 044 044, SAPD 10111 or the numbers above.

Reward
George Municipality is offering a R2500 reward for information leading to the successful conviction of electrical theft and/or vandalism in a court of law. The witness will have to go on record to the authorities and give his/her name and contact details for the purpose of testifying, but his/her identity will be protected. Phone in to 0860 044 044 to be eligible for the reward.

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ISAZISO SIKAWONKE-WONKE: Amanani aphezulu oQhagamshelwano olungekho mthethweni adala ingozi enkulu yokufa okanye ukwenzakala

I-George inenani eliphezulu kakhulu loqhagamshelo olungekho mthethweni/olungagunyaziswanga oluqhagamshelwe kuthungelwano lombane lukaMasipala waseGeorge. UMasipala uneenkqubo ezahlukeneyo azibekileyo zofakelo lombane ukuncedisana nokubonelela ngeenkonzo ezisisiseko kodwa kude kube ngoku, kwiinyanga zakutshanje inani loqhagamshelo olungagunyaziswanga linyukile. Ufakelo luyingozi kwaye aluyithobeli nayo nayiphi na imigangatho yombane. Iziseko zoncedo zikaMasipala azikhuselwanga kolu fakelo.

Le mingcipheko ilandelayo ikhona kwezi ntlobo zoqhagamshelo:
• Imililo,
• Iingozi (ngakumbi ngexesha lemozulu emanzi)
• Ukwenzakala okukhubazayo,
• ukulayishwa ngokugqithisileyo kwezibonelelo ezikhoyo – ukubangela ukumka kombane ,
• Ukonakaliswa kwepropati,
• Umgangatho wemiba yobonelelo njengombane ophantsi.

Uqhagamshelo lwenziwa kula macandelo alandelayo othungelwano lukaMasipala:
• Amandla ombane aphantsi ahamba phezulu okanye iziseko ezingundoqo ezingaphantsi komhlaba
• I-Kiosk yamandla ombane aphantsi
• Izitishi ezincinci njl njl.

Kwiimeko ezininzi amanyathelo othintelo akhoyo okuthintela ukungena okungagunyaziswanga okanye ukufikelela kwisixhobo esinombane kuyokonakaliswa okanye kubhucabhucwe. Iingcingo zombane ezisetyenzisiweyo azikhuselwanga ngokwaneleyo, kwaye kukho iingcingo ezivulekileyo ezihamba umbane kwiindawo zikawonke-wonke okanye kwiindawo ezingqongileyo.Ngaphambili amalungu oluNtu onzakala okanye abulawa xa esenza unxibelelwano nolu hlobo lweengcingo ezinombane ezivulekileyo.

Ngexesha lolungiso kunye nogcino kuthungelwano lukaMasipala, ngamanye amaxesha kubakho uqhagamshelo olungekho mthethweni/olungagunyaziswanga olukhoyo, ngakumbi kwiindawo ezinoqhagamshelo olungagunyaziswanga oluninzi njengoko zalathiwe (iThembalethu Zone 5–9 kunye nePacaltsdorp). Ezi ziganeko zixelwe kwiCandelo loBusela kunye noKonakalisa leeNkonzo zoMbane noBugcisa elinoxanduva lokususa izibonelelelo ezingagunyaziswanga. Kule meko akukhuselekanga ukunika amandla okanye ukusebenza kwiziseko zophuhliso zikamasipala kwaye kuphela xa isibonelelo esingagunyaziswanga sisusiwe, kunokwenzeka ukubuyisela amandla kubo bonke abathengi abachaphazelekayo. Kwezinye iimeko, ukungafumani mpazamo kunokwenzeka ngenxa yobukho obuphezulu bezibonelelo ezingagunyaziswanga.

Kuzo zonke iimeko ixesha lokumka kombane lingaphezulu kwesivumelwano somgangatho wenkonzo kamasipala, kwaye oku kukhokelela kwimbono embi yoluNtu kunye nokuncitshiswa konikezelo lweenkonzo. Kwezinye iimeko, abasebenzi boSasazo loMbane- bayathintelwa ukuba benze imisebenzi yabo luluNtu oluhlala kwindawo apho kwenzeka uphazamiseko lombane. Kwiimeko ezimbalwa, iindlela zokuphuma zivaliwe, kwaye abasebenzi abavumelekanga ukuba bashiye indawo yokusebenza de amandla abuyiselwe.

UMthetho oSebenzayo: UMthetho we-OHS No 85 ka-1993: Imimiselo yoFakelo loMbane
Uyilo kunye nolwakhiwo
(1) Akukho mntu unokugunyazisa, ayile, afakele okanye avumele okanye afune ufakelo lombane, ngaphandle kokungqinelana nomgangatho wezempilo nokhuseleko obandakanywe kule Mimiselo phantsi kwecandelo lama-44 loMthetho.
(2) Akukho mntu ungasebenzisa amalungu phakathi kofakelo lombane ngaphandle kokuba loo malungu athobela imigangatho ekubhekiselwe kuyo kumgangatho ohlanganisiweyo ekubhekiselwe kuwo kummiselwana woku- (1), kwaye ubungqina bokuthotyelwa buya kuba nokwalathwa kumalungu okanye isiqinisekiso siya kufumaneka sivela kumenzi okanye umboneleli wezinto okanye wamalungu ngokoMthetho woMlawuli weSizwe weMigaqo esiSinyanzelo ka-2008 (uMthetho wesi-5 ka-2008)
(3) Izinto zofakelo lombane ezingakhuselwanga kumgangatho wezempilo nokhuseleko obandakanyiweyo, kunye nezinikezeli phakathi kwendawo yokubonelela kunye nendawo yokulawula, ziya kufakelwa ngokuhambelana nemithetho kamasipala okanye imimiselo yomboneleli ochaphazelekayo.

Ikontraki yombane
(1) Akukho mntu unokwenza umsebenzi wofakelo lombane njengekontraka yombane ngaphandle kokuba loo mntu ubhalisiwe njengonokontraka wombane ngokwemiqathango yale Mimiselo

Esi sibhengezo soluNtu ke ngoko sisibongozo kuluNtu lwaseGeorge ukuba luyeke ukubhucabhuca, ukonakalisa, ukuphazamisa kunye /okanye ukuqhagamshelwa kwizibonelelo zikaMasipala njengoko kukho imingcipheko ephezulu ebandakanyekayo, ngakumbi kukhuseleko loluNtu.

Xela uqhagamshelo olungekho mthethweni kwa-044 801 9222/044 803 9222 okanye 044 801 6300 (a/h).
Xela abantu abenza uqhagamshelwano olungekho mthethweni kwa-0860 044 044, SAPD 10111 okanye kwiinombolo ezingentla.

Imbuyekezo
UMasipala waseGeorge unikezela ngembuyekezo yama-R2500 ngolwazi olukhokelela ekugwetyweni ngempumelelo ngobusela bombane kunye/okanye ukonakalisa impahla kwinkundla yomthetho. Ingqina kuya kufuneka liye kuxela kwabasemagunyeni kwaye linike igama lalo kunye neenkcukacha zoqhagamshelwano ngenjongo yokungqina, kodwa igama lalo liya kukhuselwa. Tsalela umnxeba kwa- 0860 044 044 ukuze ube nelungelo lokufumana imbuyekezo.

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OPENBARE KENNISGEWING: Hoë getalle van onwettige aansluitings skep ‘n hoë risiko vir sterftes of beserings

George het ‘n baie groot aantal onwettige/ongemagtigde aansluitings wat aan George Munisipaliteit se elektriese netwerk gekoppel is. Die Munisipaliteit het verskeie elektrifiseringsprogramme in plek om te help met die verskaffing van basiese dienste en tog het die aantal ongemagtigde aansluitings in die afgelope maande toegeneem. Die installasies is gevaarlik en voldoen nie aan enige elektrisiteitstandaarde nie. Die Munisipaliteit se infrastruktuur word nie teen hierdie installasies beskerm nie.

Die volgende risiko’s is teenwoordig met hierdie tipe verbindings:
• Brande,
• Sterftes (veral tydens nat weer),
• invaliderende beserings,
• oorlaaing van bestaande infrastruktuur – wat kragonderbrekings veroorsaak,
• Skade aan eiendom,
• kwaliteit van toevoerkwessies soos lae spanning.

Die verbindings word gemaak met die volgende afdelings van die Munisipale netwerk:
• Laespanning oorhoofse of ondergrondse infrastruktuur
• Laespanning kiosk
• Miniatuur Substasies ens.

In die meeste gevalle word die voorkomende maatreëls wat in plek is om ongemagtigde toegang of toegang tot die lewendige toerusting te voorkom, gevandaliseer of mee gepeuter. Die elektriese leidings wat gebruik word, is nie voldoende geïsoleer nie en daar is lewendige, blootgestelde drade in openbare ruimtes of omliggende gebiede. In die verlede is lede van die publiek beseer of oorlede nadat hulle kontak gemaak het met sulke lewendige blootgestelde drade.

Gedurende herstelwerk en instandhouding op die Munisipale netwerk is daar soms onwettige / ongemagtigde aansluitings teenwoordig, veral in die brandpunte soos geïdentifiseer (Thembalethu Sone 5– 9 en Pacaltsdorp). Hierdie voorvalle word by die Elektrotegniese Dienste Diefstal en Vandalisme afdeling aangemeld wat verantwoordelik is om die ongemagtigde infrastruktuur te verwyder. In hierdie toestand is dit onveilig om munisipale infrastruktuur te bekragtig of daaraan te werk en slegs sodra die ongemagtigde infrastruktuur verwyder is, is dit moontlik om die krag aan al die geaffekteerde kliënte te herstel. In sommige gevalle is geen foutopsporing moontlik nie weens die hoë teenwoordigheid van ongemagtigde infrastruktuur.

In alle gevalle oorskry die kragonderbrekingstyd die munisipale diensvlakooreenkoms, en dit lei tot swak persepsie van die gemeenskap en verminderde dienslewering. In sommige gevalle word Elektrotegniese Verspreidingspersoneel verbied om hul pligte uit te voer deur die publiek wat in die gebied woon waar die kragonderbreking plaasgevind het. In enkele gevalle word die uitgangsroetes versper, en personeel word nie toegelaat om die werkterrein te verlaat totdat die krag herstel is nie.

Toepaslike wetgewing: BGW Wet No 85 van 1993: Elektriese Installasie Regulasies
Ontwerp en konstruksie
(1) Niemand mag die installering van ‘n elektriese installasie magtig, ontwerp, installeer of toelaat of vereis nie, behalwe in ooreenstemming met ‘n gesondheid- en veiligheidstandaard wat kragtens artikel 44 van die Wet by hierdie Regulasies opgeneem is.
(2) Geen persoon mag komponente binne ‘n elektriese installasie gebruik nie, tensy daardie komponente voldoen aan die standaarde waarna verwys word in die betrokke ingeboude standaard waarna verwys word in subregulasie (1), en bewys van voldoening moet op die komponente geïdentifiseer kan word of sertifisering moet beskikbaar wees van die vervaardiger of verskaffer van die materiaal of komponente ingevolge die Wet op Nasionale Reguleerder vir Verpligte Spesifikasies, 2008 (Wet 5 van 2008)
(3) Items van ‘n elektriese installasie wat nie deur ‘n ingeboude gesondheid- en veiligheidstandaard gedek word nie, en die geleiers tussen die toevoerpunt en die beheerpunt, moet in ooreenstemming met die verordeninge of regulasies van die betrokke verskaffer geïnstalleer word.

Elektriese kontrakteur
(1) Niemand mag elektriese installasiewerk as ‘n elektriese kontrakteur doen nie, tensy daardie persoon ingevolge hierdie Regulasies as ‘n elektriese kontrakteur geregistreer is.

Hierdie openbare aankondiging is dus ‘n pleidooi aan die gemeenskappe van George om hulle te weerhou van peuter, vandalisering, inmenging en/of verbinding met die munisipale elektriese infrastruktuur aangesien daar hoë risiko’s betrokke is, veral vir die veiligheid van die publiek gemeenskap.

Rapporteer onwettige verbindings by 044 801 9222/044 803 9222 of 044 801 6300 (n/u)
Rapporteer mense wat onwettige verbindings maak by 0860 044 044, SAPD 10111 of die nommers hierbo.

Beloning
George Munisipaliteit bied ‘n R2500 beloning aan vir inligting wat lei tot die suksesvolle skuldigbevinding van elektriese diefstal en/of vandalisme in ‘n geregshof. Die getuie sal op rekord na die owerhede moet gaan en sy/haar naam en kontakbesonderhede moet gee vir die doel om te getuig, maar sy/haar identiteit sal beskerm word. Skakel 0860 044 044 om vir die beloning in aanmerking te kom.