WATCH: Elderly, businesses without power since Friday

Residents are frustrated over a prolonged power outage, which started on February 16, affecting homes and businesses in Market, Oosterlig, Commissioner and Osborne streets in Boksburg CBD.

According to Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos, a transformer on the premises of Pedlars Place, an apartment block in Market Street, gave in and needed to be replaced.

“I believe it gave in because of age and lack of maintenance,” he said.

He believes the restoration time is February 23.

“I followed up with the divisional head of revenue on February 19, and he replied almost immediately and committed to prioritising this matter.
“I also followed up with the chief engineer during the day and he confirmed they do not have transformers in stock, therefore, these residents must wait until the end of this week. This is not a guarantee they will get a replacement transformer. ”

According to the engineer, they sent six mini substations for repairs and are expecting them back towards the end of the week.

The ward councillor pointed out that among the affected residents are elderly and people working from home.
“Yet, we don’t get a tangible response from the city about a restoration date and time,” De Vos said.

“I managed to get a generator on Sunday and on Monday morning, a Parkdene resident also graced us with a generator, so the residents can at least boil a kettle.“
He added he was grateful to the residents of his ward who assist those left in the dark.

Video: Marius de Vos.

“Some of them brought ice to help save some of the food, while others are assisting with fuel donations for the generators. These are wonderful contributions. It helped the residents remain calm.”

The caretaker of Pedlar Place, Madelaine Steyn, described the situation as chaotic.

“We cannot carry on like this. We have old and sick people here,” said Steyn.

One resident at Pedlar Place, Ann Fouche, explained she had osteoarthritis and recently had a back operation, but now has to bathe in cold water.

“Furthermore, our food is ruined, because the fridges are not working,”

The outage has also affected businesses, forcing them to lose thousands of rands.

Director of Boksburg Printers in Commissioner Street, Johnson Mkhavele, said the outage is costing the business a lot of money.

“We are running massive machines, and if we cannot do the job, clients go elsewhere,“ he said.
“At least we have a generator, but it is expensive to run.”

The Boksburg Advertiser is still awaiting comment from the City of Ekurhuleni.

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