Durban – The Umbilo Community Policing Forum (CPF) and Umbilo SAPS were alerted to vagrants living inside an electricity substation in Umbilo, Durban.
CPF chairperson Calvin Thomas said at the weekend a few residents had alerted him to the issue of vagrants living inside the electricity substation at the bottom of Penzance Road and Umbilo Road.
A resident had also taken a photograph and shared it with the CPF. The resident had gone inside the substation after experiencing issues with electricity.
The image showed bags, backpacks, pillows, clothing and other various items.
“He (resident) discovered five vagrants have made the substation (with live electricity) their home.”
“I reported the matter to SAPS and they subsequently went in and removed these vagrants,” Thomas said.
Thomas called on the ward councillor, Sakhile Mngadi, for the issue to be addressed with the eThekwini Municipality’s electricity department as the doors to the substation were not locked.
Mngadi said the substation issue had been a problem for a number of years and had been exacerbated not by neglect, but by increasing crime.
“I have engaged with everyone. It is locked but on occasion, it is broken into,” Mngadi said.
“Metro police and SAPS are aware of it.”
Mngadi said a development was in the pipeline for Congella Park, near the substation. Construction was expected to begin this year.
Daily News