FOLLOW-UP: Metro issues conflicting reports following lengthy power outage
Council claims that no lengthy power outage was reported during the weekend of June 25
On June 25, a large area within the city was plunged into darkness, with many suburbs being left without power for more than 48 hours.
Western Extension, Lakefield, Farrarmere and Alphen Park were without power following scheduled load-shedding with the supply restored to parts of Western Extension on the afternoon of June 27.
According to Ward 28 clr Mary Goby, she and her colleagues scrambled throughout the weekend to gather information from technicians of the energy department. Information was not readily available and they received no updates.
According to a statement received on July 13, Zweli Dlamini, spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni, denied that the CBD and surrounding areas experienced load-shedding on the day and said no large outage was recorded.
He continued saying the outage was due to cold load pick-up following load-shedding on the same day.
“No repair work was done as there was no equipment failure,” he said.
“The outage can be linked to load-shedding.”
During this period it was noted that while residents were left in darkness, ANC delegates from across Gauteng descended on The Lakes Hotel and Conference Centre on June 24 to host its 14th provincial conference.
There was a multi-disciplinary security checkpoint in Railway Avenue operating throughout the weekend, seemingly unaffected by the outage.
While visiting the vacant land where the designated security checkpoint had been erected, with Goby and Ward 73 PR clr Jordan Lotriet, on June 27 the City Times found employees from the Ekurhuleni energy department removing a high voltage power cable from the site.
According to one of the employees, who wished to remain anonymous, they were instructed to supply power to the checkpoint throughout the weekend and that it was plugged in at a nearby power pole.
When questioned whether the connection and the subsequent load placed on the grid may have been responsible for the extended outage, he answered that he doesn’t know.
“Some residents were without power for more than 40 hours. My only conclusion is that this irregular connection may have been responsible for the power interruption,” said Goby.
Residents living in six houses directly opposite the checkpoint confirmed that they as well as the site used by security personnel and the SAPS, had power the entire weekend and that the only interruption was during scheduled load shedding.
In Dlamini’s statement he confirmed that a temporary electrical supply cable was attached to a nearby streetlight pole, which did not affect a single complaint received on the day.
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