Ongoing repairs at Pyramid substation nearly done

The Tshwane metro has reported that its team of electricity technicians has made progress in repairing the Pyramid substation after residents were left frustrated for close to a week.

The residents were left in disarray on October 2 after a fire severely damaged a local substation.

According to Tshwane, the repair work was over 80% complete, yet the community remains on edge, grappling with the implications of this repeated infrastructure failure.

Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the team has been working around the clock to operationalise the substation.

Bokaba said repairs to the damaged multi-core cables between the control panel and the transformer have been completed.

“Medium voltage equipment pressure testing has also been completed.

The team will be directing its attention to finalising the cabling work, topping up and purifying the transformer oil, closing panels and reconnecting the busbars.

This will be done in parallel with the tests on protection equipment and the transformer. At this stage, the estimated time for restoration has still not yet been determined,” said Bokaba.

The fire at the Pyramid substation left many residents in Rooiwal, north of Pretoria, without electricity for days.

The incident has led to widespread frustration among those affected, as they face not only power outages but also disruptions to their daily life.

The Tshwane metro emergency services quickly extinguished the blaze, but the aftermath has revealed deeper concerns regarding the reliability of local infrastructure.

Bokaba stated that the fire triggered outages across multiple areas, including Pretoria North, Wonderboom, Wolmer, and parts of Waltloo.

While technicians were able to isolate the fault and restore power to several substations, the Pyramid substation remains offline as repairs continue.

For residents in the Pyramid area, this incident is not an isolated event.

Resident Koos Botha said the incident marks the third fire at the Pyramid substation in just five years.

“The first occurred in October 2019, followed by another in October 2022.”

Each time, residents faced prolonged outages that disrupted their lives, leading to growing dissatisfaction with how the metro manages its infrastructure.

Botha pointed out that the latest fire might have started hours earlier than reported.

He recalled waking up at 23:00 on October 1 to flickering lights, suggesting that the issue began before the official timeline.

This discrepancy only adds to their frustration, as they feel the metro is not being transparent about the ongoing issues.

Concerned resident Peter Masombuka said: “This isn’t just about one fire. It’s about a pattern of neglect. We are tired of it.”

“During previous outages, we’ve received misleading information, it feels like they don’t care about the impact on our lives.”

Mayor Nasiphi Moya also assured residents that updates will be provided, yet many are sceptical.

Adding to the turmoil, allegations of sabotage have emerged following an oversight visit by Themba Fosi, the former MMC for Utility Services.

Fosi reported signs of intentional damage at the substation, including broken locks and severed cables, prompting concerns about the safety and integrity of the metro’s energy infrastructure.

His claims have fuelled speculation about potential collusion between contractors and saboteurs, further eroding public trust.

“We call for a thorough investigation into the incident and we emphasise the need for accountability to ensure that such acts don’t undermine essential services.”

Residents also expressed frustration at the financial implications of these outages.

Each incident not only disrupts their lives but also has economic consequences for the metro.

“Without power, our local businesses suffer and the metro loses revenue from electricity consumption.

“The metro is losing money while we’re losing our patience and livelihoods,” said Masombuka.

He said it’s frustrating to think that the council isn’t taking these repeated incidents seriously.

“If they cared, they would have invested in better maintenance and infrastructure.”

As repair work continues, residents are left wondering what the future holds.

Many feel that the metro council has not adequately addressed the underlying issues plaguing the Pyramid substation.

Botha said they demand community, transparency, and a commitment to improving the reliability of their energy supply.

“We need the metro to take our situation seriously before it’s too late.

“Otherwise, they [it] might wake up one day and realise they have [it has] no customers left.”

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