Mooikloof substation to receive attention after ratepayers threaten legal action
The ratepayers demand to be rerouted to another substation, however, Tshwane says this is not technically feasible to move all residents that were supplied from the Mooikloof substation to another supply area.
Tshwane is implementing a project to reinstate the Mooikloof substation to its originally design capacity.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the metro was aiming on moving some of the load from the Mooikloof substation to the Wingate substation in the east of Pretoria.
This was to lighten the burden on the struggling Mooikloof that had ratepayers in parts of Pretoria east frustrated and threatening Tshwane with legal action for the marathon power outages in the area.
Ratepayers have grown tired of power not being restored after load-shedding and constant trips that a legal service in Monument Park has now written several notices to institute legal proceedings against the metro.
The angry ward 47 and 91 residents of Elarduspark, Moreleta Park, Wingate Park, Mooikloof, Pretorius Park, Olympus, Woodlands and Garsfontein say they have grown tired of the poor-performing Mooikloof.
They demand they be urgently rerouted to a functional substation.
Mashigo said Tshwane could confirm receipt of a legal letter from the angry residents.
He said however it was important for residents to note that the substation trips were not necessarily due to load-shedding but to some technical challenges.
He said the issues were being addressed gradually as and when they occurred.
“Every substation is designed within certain proximities in terms of the supply area.”
Mashigo said the residents demanded to be rerouted to another substation, however it was not technically feasible to move all residents supplied from the Mooikloof to another supply area.
Tshwane has appointed a contractor for the reinstatement of the parts of Mooikloof that were damaged due to fire, years ago.
Mashigo said ward 47 and 91 repairs were also concluded on August 20, after another trip occurred recently at the site.
“The area has been experiencing repeated power outages due to overloads caused by the abnormalities on the network, one of the feeder cables was faulty and couldn’t be repaired due to the ongoing labour unrest.”
Mashigo also said that the area supplied by the substation had grown over the years due to new property development and local economic growth.
He said a load flow study would be undertaken to give a conclusive outcome if the current electrical network capacity was no longer sufficient to cater for the area.
Mooikloof has been the centre of complaints for numerous years for about 11 suburbs, with ratepayers repeatedly being plunged into extended darkness outside of the common, yet dreadful load-shedding schedules due to constant breakdowns.
This has led to ratepayers throwing away spoiled food, and experiencing traffic delays among other challenges.
The law firm, Elso Viljoen & Associates, representing numerous households in wards 47 and 91, has addressed two letters to city manager, Johann Mettler and mayor Cilliers Brink, among other officials on the unacceptable service to ratepayers that are paying.
“We confirm that we act on behalf of concerned citizens in both ward 47 and 91, in Pretoria east. We note that there are constant issues with Mooikloof, which have been brought to the attention of councillors on various occasions.
“We have been informed that this is due to a trip at Mooikloof, due to it being unable to carry the large load after load- shedding. On numerous occasions, the citizens have requested that wards 47 and 91 be moved to Wingate, however, substantive reasoning for why the same cannot be achieved has not been provided.
“Again, the residents of wards 47 and 91 are without electricity, and numerous differing excuses from ward councillors have been given. This is unacceptable, as the residents are paying for a service, which service has, time and time again, failed to be rendered.”
The firm stated that some children in the area relied on nebulisers, oxygen or medication that needed to be kept cool.
“Residents have to throw away food at a rapid rate, due to the long periods without electricity.”
The residents demand upgrades to ensure that the substation can handle the required load or to be moved to Wingate when the Mooikloof substation trips.
Angry Moreleta Park, ward 91 resident Carien Grobler told Rekord that Mooikloof had been a problem since 2018.
Grobler, a mother of two, said for about six years there had been a repeat of maintenance issues that Tshwane could not resolve, including cable theft.
She said the constant trip at Mooikloof had further implications for her finances, with groceries going to waste often.
“The financial implications are devastating. I spend extra on petrol for the generator and takeaways as we can’t cook. We also throw out a lot of food.
“Some of our appliances have to be replaced.”
Grobler said she recalled when the substation caught fire in 2021, her household was forced to drive to alternative places for hot showers and washing.
Tshwane bus services remain suspended
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