Residents in and around Ward 55 are demanding that the Tshwane metro address their unstable power supply, affecting areas including Kirkney, Zandfontein and Boekenhoutkloof.

These areas are reportedly subject to frequent blackouts that take prolonged periods of time to restore.

Morné Erasmus, Freedom Front Plus (FF+) councillor, said his party has repeatedly reported outages and submitted petitions to the Petitions Committee. Erasmus said there is an urgent need for upgrading and maintaining the 33kV Swartpruit and Iscor substations, the 132kV Gomsand substation, as well as the wider network.

“The residents of Ward 55 are particularly vulnerable. Many households, especially on smallholdings and farms, are dependent entirely on electricity for water supply, through boreholes and pressure pumps, security systems such as alarms and electric fencing, as well as basic daily operations,” he said.

According to Erasmus, there is no municipal water supply to the area, “which means that electricity is not a convenience, but crucial for survival”.

“The impact on elderly and medically dependent residents is a major concern. Prolonged power outages endanger the lives of people who depend on oxygen machines,” Erasmus said.

He added that local businesses also “suffer serious operational disruptions, ultimately threatening the livelihoods and economic stability of the community”.

The FF+ has sent an official letter to the City Manager, Johann Mettler, demanding a valid reason for the Electricity Department’s absence and accountability from the relevant officials.

It also requested an urgent meeting between Ward 55 representatives and the Fortsig Electricity Department to ensure ongoing feedback to residents.

The party expects an immediate response from the highest authority in the metro and says it will keep pressing for tangible solutions to be implemented and accountability to be enforced.

Erasmus further asserts that the Electricity Department failed to attend two scheduled meetings of the Petitions Committee, including the most recent session on March 19.

He described its absence as a demonstration of blatant disregard for residents and undermines processes meant to ensure accountability.

One such formal complaint, prior to the suggested meeting, was lodged by the residents of Andeon and Kameeldrift West plots at the start of the month.

In the complaint, residents allege that they were experiencing power outage number 28 within a period of just two months at the time of writing, and described the situation as ‘completely unacceptable’.

One such resident and member of the Hercules CPF, Johan Cloete, said residents faithfully pay their municipal accounts to the city, and they have a constitutional right to basic service delivery.

He said the ongoing failure to provide a stable electricity supply infringes on the dignity and fundamental rights of our community.

“These continuous electricity failures place residents in an impossible position. How are people expected to pump water for household use? How are plot owners and small-scale farmers expected to provide water for their animals? How are families expected to live in safe and dignified conditions?”

Cloete demanded urgent intervention and accountability from the executive management of the Tshwane metro and the Mayor’s Office.

“If funds are available for water tankers and emergency measures, why is the underlying electricity infrastructure problem not being permanently resolved?

Residents demanded a detailed technical report explaining the cause of the repeated outages, a clear timeline for permanent repairs, transparency regarding budget allocation and expenditure, and immediate interim measures to ensure access to water while repairs are underway.

In the most recent city’s financial plan for 2024/25, the Gomsand Substation (132kV) included a combined total of R1-million dedicated for repairs at the Gomsand and Claudius substations; however, the Swartpruit (33kV) and Iscor substations were not explicitly mentioned.

At the time of publishing, the metro has not responded to the Rekord’s inquiry regarding the community’s concerns.

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