No end in sight for prolonged power outages

The residents of neighbouring Villa Liza and Windmill Park have been experiencing lengthy power cuts beyond the loadshedding schedule for over a year.

Resident of Villa Liza, Vicks Khoza, said they are without electricity for days at a time.

“We presented a petition to the Ekurhuleni Energy Department last year in Vosloorus, but the problem has not been resolved,” he said, adding an electrician from the metro once told residents their power is overloaded.

“He said the power grid was not expanded along with the developments in our area, so the network is weak and can’t power up all the homes in Villa Liza,” explained Khoza.

Another resident, Siphiwe Madonsela, said lengthy power cuts are affecting sick people the most.

“How will the people who use respiratory machines survive with this electricity crisis, including those who use medicine that needs to be refrigerated?

“The lengthy power cuts are not the only problem, our mast lights and street lights are also not working in Villa Liza.

“Our councillor knows about the problems and he has been working hard to get them resolved. He is trying his best,” said Madonsela.

Ward 45 Clr Nkululeko Sidu confirmed the issues in Villa Liza and said he has escalated these to the Ekurhuleni Energy Department.

“Lengthy power cuts are caused by the overloaded energy grid, according to the metro’s electricians. I have been with the electricians at the power station and when they tried to switch on electricity in Villa Liza, it tripped multiple times.

“There’s an allocated budget to resolve the issue but we are waiting for the energy department roll out the ground work,” said Sidu.

Ward 99 Clr Andile Daemane said Windmill Park is facing the same problem.

“I have escalated the issues for both areas to the energy department, but there has been no resolution. The energy department said that as long as people overload the sub-station with illegal connections the problem will persist,” said Daemane.

He added that the department has not given a clear indication of when the power issues be resolved.

The Boksburg Advertiser has sent an enquiry to the Ekurhuleni metro and is awaiting a response.

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