One of the Eskom transformers at the Ikageng Main Substation has experienced a fire yesterday, Tuesday, 28 February, that has lead to serious damage.

According to JB Marks Municipality spokesperson, Jeanette Tshite, only one transformer is currently operational and cannot handle the current load.

“Technical Services is busy constructing a temporary line from another substation in order to quickly try and supply power to the affected areas. We hope the construction of a temporary line will be completed in due course whilst waiting for Eskom to repair their transformer. An urgent load curtailment had to be implemented to reduce demand by alternating sessions between Ikageng Extensions and Old Ikageng. Consequently, Ikageng Extensions gets switched on and off and thereafter the same thing gets applied to Old Ikageng until Eskom has completed their repairs,” stated Tshite.

The municipality further added that a team from Eskom Klerksdorp has been dispatched to attend to the transformer with an estimated time for repair being no later than Friday, 3 March.

“As the JB Marks Local Municipality we do apologise to all residents who are affected and we will notify them that as soon as Eskom are done with repairs, power will be normalized at all areas of Ikageng,” ended Tshite.