Transformers in Centurion will undergo inspections and maintenance to help prevent power outages following a series of recent failures.

The move follows a transformer fire at Edwards Road, Eldoraigne, on March 5 that left several residents without electricity for days.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the inspections aim to assess the condition of electrical infrastructure and identify risks that could lead to failures or fires.

“The city will conduct another inspection of all the transformers in the area to identify possible risks,” Mashigo said.

He added that technicians were dispatched to the site at about 07:25 on the day of the incident, but were unable to replace the unit immediately because of heavy rain.

According to Mashigo, the transformer caught fire after a surge caused by the load exceeding the unit’s capacity. About 40 households were affected. “The estimated timeframe for restoring electricity after such incidents is typically around eight hours, but in this case, the process was delayed due to the heavy rain,” he said.

Mashigo confirmed the transformer had last been inspected in January and that safety devices, such as surge arrestors, are fitted in parallel to all pole-mounted transformers.

“All ground surface-connected transformers will also be tested,” he said. He acknowledged the city does not currently have backup transformers or mini-substations for large-scale outages caused by transformer fires, citing the high cost of such systems.

The inspections follow concerns raised by residents and Ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson about repeated transformer incidents in the area. Residents had reported hearing unusual noises from the infrastructure before the most recent fire, and Billson has questioned the procurement standards and reliability of transformers installed in the suburb.

Community member Jan Bischoff, who lives at the property where the transformer is sited, said the current unit is the second replacement since the burnt transformer was removed.

He said the first replacement, installed after the March 5 fire, began making a loud humming noise audible inside his home – a sound similar to that of the transformer that caught fire – and was subsequently removed. Bischoff called for more rigorous pre–installation testing and tighter quality control of purchases.

“One would think that these transformers were properly tested,” he said.

Billson confirmed this was the third transformer replaced in the area within two months.

“The first transformer exploded in January, and that transformer was replaced within four days due to cable faults,” she said.

The transformer that burnt on March 5 was replaced the following day, but that unit also developed problems and had to be replaced again.

She said electricity was not restored to all affected areas immediately because the first replacement failed, causing further delays; full restoration was only achieved on March 9.

Billson has requested clarity from the Tshwane metro on when the transformers were purchased, whether they meet required standards and what guarantees exist for the reliability of new units. She has also called for an investigation into procurement and quality-testing processes.

The March 5 fire began at about 01:00 and caused a major outage affecting roughly 70% of the suburb. Emergency services from the Tshwane municipality extinguished the blaze at about 02:00. No homes or buildings were damaged beyond the electrical infrastructure. Technicians were dispatched to investigate the incident.

ALSO READ: Transformer fire plunges Eldoraigne into darkness

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