Trudging rocky and bushy terrain under the cover of darkness every night until 4am, the motley army of Bayland residents, who have been patrolling the Chatty electricity substation since March, are a shining example of the true meaning of ubuntu.

Despite not having electricity themselves, their diligence and tenacity as a volunteer neighbourhood watch outfit started when the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber joined hands to curb the vandalism of municipal infrastructure.

When there is no Eskom-induced loadshedding, every single suburb in Gqeberha including all hospitals and emergency facilities, enjoy the fruits of the labour of the twenty-two member Baylander patrols.

"That is not the only benefit,” says Bayland Community leader, Theo Malahle.

"Since we started with our patrols, the murder rate dropped drastically in our area as well.”

Timothy Hendricks, president of the Nelson Mandela Bay District Business Community Police Forum, said the community immediately agreed with the idea when they were approached in March.

"Four days after our first meeting, we also managed to get a soup kitchen up and running with the help of Despatch Spar. We are now feeding more than 200 people every Thursday and would like to increase the frequency to help more people.

"We are in the process of delivering firewood to the community as they do not have electricity and managed to get AutoX on board to provide safety equipment for the Bayland community,” Timothy Hendricks said.

Previously known as Willard Batteries, AutoX, stepped up to the plate and donated handcuffs, two-way radios, bibs, batons, torches as well as coffee and sugar to the value of R15 000.

Keith Prinsloo, from AutoX, said they were eager to help because of the important role the residents from Bayland are playing to ensure the main electricity substation is not vandalised.

"It is the least we can do,” he added.

At the handover of the equipment on Thursday, Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk, flanked by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and, Security Stag Mitchell and Speaker of Council, Eugene Johnson, said the municipality will come to the table to provide solutions for the Bayland community.

"This community personifies ubuntu. To safeguard the electricity supply for others, while you have nothing yourselves, is demonstrating what selflessness really means.

"We owe this community so much more than just gratitude.

"I am embarrassed to hand over equipment that the private sector donated without bringing anything from the municipality. We will return shortly to rectify this,” said Mayor Van Niekerk after merely 9 days in the top job.

Chatty is the main electricity substation from where Eskom supply is distributed to other main substations to supply Gqeberha with electricity.

Cable theft is almost a daily occurrence and regularly causes disruption to the electricity supply.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the Office of the Executive Mayor by Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron).