The 11Kv Tamco Vacuum circuit breakers, purchased amid some concerns, drove a heated discussion at the Land, Housing, Infrastructural Development and Disaster Management (LHID) Portfolio Committee meeting last week.
The 11Kv Tamco Vacuum circuit breakers, purchased amid some concerns, drove a heated discussion at the Land, Housing, Infrastructural Development and Disaster Management (LHID) Portfolio Committee meeting last week.
According to Makana Municipality’s spokesperson, Thandy Matebese, the Tamco Vacuum circuit breakers, which are switches used to make or break high voltages, were purchased at a cost of R250 000.
Before the purchase was made, four council officials were selected to go, at the manufacturer’s expense to Johannesburg in March this year to witness the factory testing of the equipment.
The Technical and Infrastructural directorate report stated that the defects which were noted on the first day of the visit were partly repaired and new defects were picked up on the second day.
“The purchase and installation of this equipment took place during the project phase, of which all was done by the service provider,” said Matebese.
The purchase was processed in the midst of some identified concerns such as there being no local agent for the Tamco Breakers, no spare parts are available in South Africa and if training of staff is required then it has to be done in Malaysia.
Matebese said that the concerns raised by council officials after the factory test visit are being addressed before the project is handed over to the municipality.
During the committee meeting DA Councillor Michael Whisson expressed his confusion as to why this equipment was purchased despite the outlined concerns.
“It’s a wonderful piece of equipment, but it does not work. We should cut our ties with this,” said Whisson. Technical Services Deputy Director Johnson Steto said that the council officials informed him of the failed demonstration.
He explained that he tried to stop the process of the equipment being purchased but without any success. LHID portfolio committee chairperson and ANC councillor, Zamuxolo Peter, said that a full report explaining what occurred should be written and that the manufacturers should reimburse them in full.
He added that something went wrong somewhere and if the fault lies with the technical services team then someone should be held accountable.
“Make sure it does not hamper service delivery. “We have the Fifa World Cup and the Festival just around the corner. If it’s going to affect electricity in Makana, it has to be addressed as soon as possible,” said Peter.
