Power still out, what about frozen food?
Some are concerned about their frozen food if the power remains cut.
During the day, Krugersdorpers can expect internal load shedding and some are concerned about their frozen foods.
Just south of the Central Business District, the Eskom substation and its two broken transformers loom. These transformers are the reason Krugersdorp now faces internal load shedding.
The News visited the substation where all three of the transformers at the station were struck by lightning during a storm on Valentine’s Day.
Eskom and Mogale City Local municipality vehicles covered the entrance to the heavily fenced substation where the smell of petroleum and burnt components filled the air.
Yesterday morning, 15 February, Mogale City had already fixed one of the three transformers.
“The Eskom substation feeds electricity to the Condale substation which is the main substation for all of Mogale City,” Jacques Hoon, a Democratic Alliance ward councillor and infrastructure portfolio member, said.
“All of Mogale City’s electricity comes from that substation,” he said.
Mogale City Local Municipality’s spokesperson, Nkosana Zali, told the News that he could not give a clear indication of when the power will be fully restored.
“But we want [the substation] to be restored before the end of the day,” he said.
More and more readers have contacted the News saying they fear their frozen foods will go bad.
“Food is so expensive, we can’t afford to buy new meat,” one reader said.
The News was made aware that there will be internal load shedding in Krugersdorp throughout the day and urges its readers to prepare for a day with intermittent electricity supply.
Here is a list of good-to-know information about frozen food when the power is out, compiled by the Foodsafety organisation:
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed.
• A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
• If your freezer is not full, group packages so they form an igloo to protect each other.
• Place meat and poultry to one side or on a tray so if they begin thawing their juices will not get on other foods.
• If the power is going to be out for a long time, buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible.
Read more:
• Multi-million refurbishment of substation
• Hoe beurtkrag werk in Mogale
