Councillor and Eskom at odds over frequent power outages
The outages are caused by substation faults and tripping due to strained infrastructure. Eskom is aware of the problem and is working to improve communication and response times, but providing estimated restoration times remains a challenge.
Residents in Pineslopes, Sunninghill, and Paulsfhof have been experiencing frequent and prolonged power outages.
Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy has been at the forefront of trying to address the issue with Eskom after taking heat from the residents, but progress has been slow.
According to the councillor, the community has faced multiple outages since February, with some lasting up to 12 to 15 hours.
Also read: Eskom woes in Sunninghill become major issue for councillor
The outages have been caused by various factors, including substation faults and tripping. Reddy explained that when a substation tripped, it was a complex issue that required more than just a simple reset.
“The root cause of the problem lies in the strain on the existing infrastructure. With more housing units being built and an increasing power demand, the current infrastructure is struggling to keep up,” he said.
He added that Eskom was aware of the problem and was working to improve communication and response times. However, providing estimated times of restoration remains a challenge due to the complexity of the issues and the need to locate and repair faults.
Also read: Ward 93 Councillor Vino Reddy drives petitions against Eskom’s terrific increase and JW’s dry taps
Daphne Mokwena, the spokesperson of the power utility said,”The Gauteng team has developed a plan to resolve all major cable fault issues and has set a target date of 15 April 2025 for completion, weather permitting.”
However, Reddy claimed the deadline had not been adhered to. “I had power issues just yesterday [April 15]. But it has been quiet for a week before that, so I assume they did.”
Mokwena was contacted for an update, and she said she would revert with more information after consulting with the relevant depots.
Read more: Councillor Vino Reddy’s plea resolves revenue issues in Ward 93 suburbs
“Residents are urged to be patient and understanding, but also to hold the city accountable for finding long-term solutions to the power outage problem,” she said. “As the councillor noted, the current infrastructure is ‘running on borrowed time,’ and it’s essential to invest in upgrades and maintenance to prevent further disruptions.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
