Ventersdorp residents have been without power since Sunday, June 28 after a second incomer panel linking the Eskom Substation and the Ventersdorp Substation suffered a catastrophic failure and burnout.

According to the JB Marks Municipality, the Municipal Technical Teams had successfully completed maintenance work aimed at identifying the source of a hissing sound that had been experienced following a failure of the first incomer panel last week.

The problem is both incomer panels inside the substation have been damaged beyond repair. As such the municipality is still waiting for the new panels to arrive after a procurement issue has caused another spanner in the works.

“The delay was caused by an unforeseen procurement challenge after it was discovered that the supplier of the panels is not registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), preventing the procurement process from being finalized. The Municipal Supply Chain Management (SCM) Office is working urgently to resolve the matter and ensure that the procurement process is completed without further delay,” added JB Marks Municipal spokesperson, Jeanette Tshite.

“Upon delivery, the Technical Teams will work around the clock to install, commission, and test the new panels to ensure that electricity supply is restored as soon as possible.”

The JB Marks Local Municipality sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused by this unexpected breakdown to all affected residents during this difficult time.