The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has confirmed the testing of the high-voltage side of transformers at the Palm Ridge substation, which was gutted by fire on July 3.

The blaze has left thousands of residents and businesses in Palm Ridge and neighbouring Sky City without electricity.

A full technical team was expected to be on site on July 8 to continue recovery operations, including debris removal and pressure testing of all power cables.

The outcome of the transformer tests will be pivotal in determining the scope of repairs required and in formulating a high-level estimated restoration time (ERT).

Authorities have appealed to the community to help safeguard the remaining infrastructure from theft and vandalism, warning that any damage could further delay the already uncertain restoration timeline.

The fire, which tore through the substation’s ripple control room, housing critical electrical breakers, has sparked widespread outrage in a community, long beset by infrastructure neglect and service delivery backlogs.

The city has launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the fire, which remains undetermined. Fire safety officers and municipal engineers are leading the probe.

Local frustration has reached a boiling point, with residents blaming illegal electricity connections for sparking the blaze.

Community members say the CoE ignored their repeated warnings about the more than 1 500 illegal dwellings in the area, drawing power through unsafe and unlawful connections.

Several businesses have been forced to close temporarily, citing operational losses, while households continue to face daily hardships without power.

The Alberton Record has submitted an official enquiry to the municipality regarding power restoration timelines and long-term preventative measures, which include deploying security at the substation.

For continued updates, follow the Alberton Record.

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