URGENT PETITION: Permanent Solution to Repeated Power Failures in Benoni & Zama Zama acivity

We, the undersigned residents, businesses, and stakeholders of Benoni, call on the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently implement a permanent engineering solution to the repeated failures of the 132 kV underground electricity cable along Snake Road.

Prolonged and recurring power outages affects homes, businesses, schools, healthcare services, and public safety. Temporary repairs have not resolved the problem, resulting in repeated disruptions and unnecessary financial loss to the community.

The City has attributed these failur

es to illegal mining-related blasting activities in the area. While illegal mining is a serious concern, it does not absolve the City of its responsibility to properly design, protect, and manage critical electricity infrastructure. Underground high-voltage cables must be installed and protected in accordance with regulated standards that account for environmental and geological risks, including high-risk and vibration-prone areas.

Industry standards require deepe

r cable installation and mechanical protection in high-risk zones.

We therefore petition the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently commit to the following:

• Install the affected cable at a depth of no less than 1.8 metres with full mechanical protection, including concrete encasement, sleeve or equivalent protective measures, while the trench is currently open.

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• Install IoT (Internet of Things) monitoring sensors on critical electricity infrastructure to detect vibration, tampering, or abnormal conditions and trigger real-time alerts before major failures occur.

• Introduce network redundancy or alternative supply routes to reduce the impact of future failures on residents and businesses.

• Move away from short cable installations that require multiple joints and instead implement long-term solutions that reduce failure rates and repair costs.
• Until permanent protections are in place, increase EMPD and municipal security patrols in high-risk infrastructure areas, particularly during known high-risk period
• The Mayor urgently engage National Government to address illegal mining activities that continue to threaten public infrastructure and community safety.

Residents cannot continue to bear the cost of repeated failures caused by temporary fixes and delayed decision-making. We call on the City of Ekurhuleni to act decisively, transparently, and urgently to restore reliability and protect critical infrastructure.

Cllr Lornette Joseph    Contact the author of the petition