North residents fed up with ‘bonus load-shedding’
"I have spent thousands of rands on backup batteries and systems. However, with the intermittent power outages, these devices have become useless because they don’t have time to recharge."
Residents in parts of the north of Pretoria are fed up with what some have described as “bonus load-shedding” – intermittent power outages in addition to regular load-shedding.
Local ward councillors have blamed the power outages on powerline maintenance, cable explosions, substation trips and exploding transformers.
Ward 2 councillor Yolanda Duvenage said that load-shedding and rainy weather delayed repairs to the transformer.
The Huis Hermon frail care home in Pretoria North was also affected by the exploded transformer and residents had to cope without any power for 36 hours before it was restored.
At one point, Duvenage said that even though she referred the matter to the authorities and that all repairs were done, power was still not restored.
She resorted calling on the community to join hands with her and stand in unison at the old age home until power was restored.
This was, luckily, quickly called off as the energy department arrived to restore the power only a few minutes later.
The power outage would be the first of many that would affect residents in the area since then.
Sinoville resident Jacques Schoombee said the regular outages were causing problems for her as she works remotely.
“We can’t plan anything anymore using the load-shedding schedule because we get power cuts in between every day.
“I have spent thousands of rands on backup batteries and systems. However, with the intermittent power outages as well as load-shedding, these devices have become useless because they don’t have time to recharge.
“This is causing big problems for me at work.”
The latest power outage was yesterday and was caused by a power trip at the Tileba substation.
It affected parts of Florauna, Dorandia and Wolmer.
To report power outages, residents can contact the Tshwane call centre at 012 358 9999.
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