The installation of fibre cables and of streetlights in the Thornton community has left the residents of the greater Thornton’s yards in dire circumstances.
Isaac Harley, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Fellowship of Christian Churches in South Africa, turned to social media to raise his concerns. He says he does not want to sound ungrateful in any way, but it is rather sad how gardens, pathways and driveways of private homes, including theirs, had been spoiled and messed up by the contractors and workers of the recent installation of cables and new streetlights.
While speaking to TygerBurger, Harley says that the massive rolls of cables were stored on their property.
“Our garden and pathway was destroyed and no assistance was offered regarding repairs.”
Ward councillor Riad Davids, told TygerBurger he is not aware of any fibre cable damage complaints in Thornton or that new streetlights were installed.
However, according to the Thornton RTTA group, Davids was going to do site inspections with the contractor.
“They still have not come to our house.”
According to Isaac the rest of the community are also very unhappy.
“This was evident even after my official complaint via a social media platform.”
‘My pathway was destroyed’
In the responses to Isaac’s social media complaint one resident said the resultant damage that was left is unacceptable.
“The pathways were put back in such a bad way that we still have unsightly sections outside our houses. My paving was lifted and put back, and this has resulted in a dip that now causes damage to our car as the tar in the road is at a much higher level. Furthermore, a section of the tar outside my driveway was redone, and now has holes forming in it.
Another resident said their grass was lifted and just put back haphazardly.
“Now we have to try and recreate the garden they destroyed. Totally unacceptable!”
City attending to repairs
Beverley van Reenen, Mayco member for energy, says the City of Cape Town’s electricity department is carrying out overhead to underground electricity cabling project in the Thornton area.
“The installation of cabling commenced in August 2022. City teams and contractors have installed low-voltage supply cabling to electricity kiosks in the area between May and June this year. The City is currently also removing older street lighting from the network, which is fed from overhead electricity infrastructure. This is ongoing and the City and its contractors are attending to any required repairs.”
Van Reenen encouraged residents to approach the City should they have any concerns or follow-ups regarding repair work on their properties.
