Cause of power failures discovered
Cable thieves do not hesitate to cut wires, which can be fatal, and has recently even broken into the main substation, and helped themselves to many rands worth of copper.
BARBERTON – During the past weeks Barberton, and Emjindini in particular, has suffered numerous power failures which the community complained about to this newspaper.
There were many rumours and finger-pointing from the public and also many questions, so we decided to investigate and find out exactly what the problem is. What we discovered will hopefully put everyone’s minds at rest for once and for all.
Currently, the power supply has been restored in Barberton and Emjindini.
On Friday, we spoke to Jaco Landsberg, director of electrical services at Umjindi Municipality.
Over the past two weeks, especially due to heavy rain, eight cable faults were discovered. It is usually the result of damage to the wires in the past, sometimes even as far back as two years, but then only surface in certain circumstances like bad weather conditions.
Of these eight cable faults only three still need to be repaired.
Another issue seems to be cable thieves as new perpetrators continue to crawl out of the woodwork every so often.
These criminals do not hesitate to cut wires, which can be fatal, and has recently even broken into the main substation, and helped themselves to many rands worth of copper.
A while back this newspaper reported on cable theft in Dikbas Avenue and we are pleased to confirm that one of those offenders were convicted and sentenced.
Should you have any information with regard to cable theft, do not hesitate to report it. Your credentials will be kept anonymous. You can contact Landsberg and/or the municipal manager on 013-712-8804.
In the near future there will be a day when the whole of Barberton and Emjindini will have to make do without power for at least six hours, as this is the only way to repair the remaining faults needed to be addressed, however, Umjindi Municipality will give ample notice for this scheduled maintenance so everyone can prepare in advance.
