Eskom struggles to keep lights on in Ward 93
Councillor Vino Reddy has engaged with Eskom to address the issue and urged them to prioritize protecting infrastructure from vandalism.
Residents of Ward 93, particularly in Paulshof and Magaliessig, have been forced to live in the dark due to persistent power outages. In March, councillor Vino Reddy said the community has faced multiple outages since February, with some lasting up to 12 to 15 hours.
He said the outages have been caused by various factors, including substation faults and tripping. “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 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.
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Daphne Mokwena, the spokesperson of the power utility, said the Gauteng team had developed a plan to resolve all major cable fault issues.
Recently, Reddy send a message to Eskom asking them to prioritise protecting the infrastructure because it has become a target for vandalism. “The incidences of cable theft and vandalism is rife at the moment and I would like to issue an advisory to body corporates and residents association to protect infrastructure to mitigate against cable theft and outages. Please share the rules and requirements for enclosing mini subs.”
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Mokwena was sent questions on June 4, which she acknowledged, but no response was received despite following up.
These are the questions.
- What measures is Eskom taking to address the rising incidents of cable theft and vandalism in Ward 93, and how will these efforts impact the frequency of power outages in the area?
- Can Eskom provide guidance on the specific rules and requirements for enclosing mini substations to prevent cable theft and vandalism, as requested by councillor Reddy?
- How will Eskom collaborate with local authorities and stakeholders to enhance security and protect infrastructure, reducing the risk of cable theft and ensuring a more reliable power supply for residents?
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