Wave of substation fires in Tshwane raises red flags

The third Tshwane substation that recently caught fire and blew up yesterday in Centurion is unleashing suspicion.

In April, the Waltloo transformer 1B caught fire and the Brakfontein substation left residents without power for over a week.

DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink said Tshwane must answer to how many of the city’s substations have surge and fire protection following yet another substation going up in flames.

Tshwane must answer to substation fires

“This time, the Swartkop substation went up in flames. No substation is meant to burn down due to voltage surges, whether caused by lightning or cables being hacked off,” said Brink.

“A surge protection system, backed by battery power, shuts down the substation before a fire breaks out. This not only protects electricity infrastructure but also human life. If surge protection fails, the second line of defence is fire suppression.

“This might include sprinkler systems and the like, but it is a more sophisticated safeguard.” Brink said Tshwane’s unusually high number of substation fires was suspicious.

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“After the Mooikloof substation fire last year, I ordered an investigation into these fires, including an assessment of the state of surge protection systems at substations; a reconciliation of amounts paid to service providers appointed to repair substations after they have burnt down; and why a tender for the installation and repair of surge protection systems was not in place.”

“This was based on the suspicion that vested interests inside the city deliberately neglected surge protection systems.”

Brink said the rebuilding of substations by contractors was an easy way of extracting large amounts of money from the city.

DA demands answers

“By the time our administration was voted out of office, this investigation was not complete.”

Brink said the DA’s Themba Fosi has written to mayor Nasiphi Moya on this issue and expects an answer at the May council meeting.