Industrial firms in Gqeberha have collectively raised nearly R1-million to enhance security at the Swartkops Substation. According to Daily Maverick, this effort was coordinated by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s local cluster to address recurring power disruptions that have inflated operational costs for companies in the Deal Party and Struandale areas. The primary use of the funds will be for installing perimeter fencing, as the facility has faced frequent targeting by vandals and thieves over the last three months.

The need for this intervention became apparent after a recent 15-hour power failure forced Isuzu Motors South Africa to spend approximately R400,000 on diesel to maintain backup generators. Daily Maverick noted that this single incident added to the company’s annual diesel expenditure, which stands at roughly R1-million. The outage disrupted production schedules, threatened contractual deadlines, and led to short-time work for staff, demonstrating how unreliable electricity affects the broader local economic network.

The Ezethu Development Trust provided the largest single contribution of R500,000. Other participating companies included S&N Rubber, Autocast, BASF, and Continental Tyre SA, with the business chamber’s cluster committing to cover any remaining costs. Some firms had previously funded surveillance cameras and a dedicated patrol service to monitor the substation and its immediate surroundings.

Odwa Mtati, chairman of the Ezethu Development Trust, described the funding as a way to protect vital infrastructure and support business continuity. He argued that joint efforts are necessary to preserve the economic activity and employment that rely on stable power supply. Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the business chamber, emphasized that while the initiative shows effective collaboration, businesses should not be expected to permanently fund the protection of municipal assets.

Sithembiso Soyaya, a municipal spokesperson, highlighted that the partnership relies on an existing memorandum of agreement between the municipality and the business chamber. He identified vandalism and copper theft as urgent challenges for the city’s infrastructure. Van Huyssteen suggested that the municipality must implement a comprehensive security plan integrating manpower, technology, and maintenance to ensure long-term resilience for the metro’s power facilities.