In response to an attempted sabotage incident, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has heightened security measures at the Chatty electricity substation. The increased security follows a service delivery protest on Tuesday morning, during which demonstrators set fire to bushes and debris near the substation, located over 100 meters from the main road, R75 in Kwadwesi. This act of vandalism emerged shortly after a blackout affecting five wards, including Gqeberha’s central business district, caused by damage to an electricity cable over the weekend.
Officials from the municipality’s electricity department warned that a disruption at the substation could have resulted in a widespread blackout, impacting Gqeberha, Kariega, and the Coega Special Economic Zone. Tholi Biyela, the metro’s executive director of electricity and energy, confirmed that he directed the implementation of enhanced security protocols at the facility following the protest. This proactive measure aims to safeguard critical infrastructure and prevent any further incidents that could jeopardize power supply in the region.