Residents and businesses in Alphen Park and Ashlea Gardens, east of Pretoria are still plunged in the dark with no estimation of when electricity will be restored after a power outage that occurred on Sunday.

The outage was caused by cable theft and vandalism on Sunday evening and has affected schools, residents, and their businesses, according to a ward councillor.

In a Facebook video post, Ward 82 councillor Siobhan Muller said they are looking at more days without electricity.

However, she assured residents they are doing everything they possibly can to ensure work is done.

She said Sanral had to be brought in and they’re currently busy digging a manhole to let out toxicity in the tunnel underground, which is 14m down.

“The problem that also arises is that the soil is extremely wet, so they cannot simply dig deep trenches.

Once the trenching is done correctly and the stepping is in place, they will be able to go down, and to fully access what the damages are,” she said.

“We do know that cables were stolen, but we don’t know what the other damage there is.”

She said they are looking at days without electricity, but she will keep residents updated.

According to Muller, suggestions have been raised to reroute power from another substation or line.

“I have confirmed that though possible, it would take longer than the current repair.”

She said if the power comes from the Highlands substation, it would need to go overhead or under the N1.

Muller added that the overhead would be very difficult.

“This option would take up to a year.”

Muller said to reroute from a substation on the western side, there must be infrastructure close by.

She added that it would take at least as long as the repair or probably longer.

“The regional head will provide me with feedback shortly as EMS is on-site measuring the toxicity. If the team can go down, the damage and repair time will be easier to assess.

“The trenching on the Menlyn side continues.”

DA spokesperson on Utilities, Themba Fosi visited the site and expressed his support for the work being done by Tshwane.

“We will also convene the MMC for Utilities to come with his team to provide support and ensure power is restored,” Fosi said.

He appealed to residents to exercise calm and assured them that updates would be provided regularly.

Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo also said, “Backfeeding is not possible in this instance; otherwise, it could have been explored”.

ALSO READ: No end in sight for power outage in Alphen Park and Ashlea Gardens, residents growing impatient

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