After the recent power outages that left some areas in Secunda in the dark for longer than a week, DA Clr Mariaan Chamberlain believes the municipality needs to make serious changes, as several cable faults caused these outages.

Although municipal employees worked around the clock to locate the cable fault, another cable fault popped up each time they tried to switch the electricity back on. Chamberlain explained why this issue keeps taking place in the same area.

“Old and ageing underground cables that are reaching the end of their lifespan contribute to the problem,” said Chamberlain.

“The lifespan of a common high-voltage cable is between 30 and 40 years. Thus, constant maintenance and housekeeping are of utmost importance. Water and moisture entering damaged or cracked cables is another problem.”

The long-term solutions, as stated by Chamberlain, involve upgrading and replacing the ageing infrastructure, not just making emergency repairs.

“This is necessary to reduce repeated outages and ensure a more reliable electricity supply to the community so that businesses do not lose income and residents do not lose food.

“Open electricity boxes invite vandals. According to the law, these boxes must be closed at all times,” said Chamberlain.

Thistle Grove is one of the surrounding towns where vandalism is rampant. Chamberlain believes the municipality has to set aside more money in its budget for the upgrading and maintenance of the electricity infrastructure in the area.

Cable theft is often a cause of power outages. According to Chamberlain, the municipality is making an improvement by using aluminum cables instead of copper cables when replacing a faulty or stolen cable.

“Aluminium cables are not as valuable as copper cables,” said Chamberlain.

Although the Govan Mbeki Municipality took steps to improve security at the sub-stations by erecting palisade fencing, criminals are now targeting power boxes and mini sub-stations.

Locating the cable fault is also not an easy or quick job. Chamberlain said not even contracted, highly qualified electricians from out of town could find the cable faults.

A bigger, stronger thumper machine had to be brought from Middelburg to complete the repair. While municipal workers and electricians worked hard to locate the faults, law enforcers caught cable thieves in the act in a different area.

Chamberlain explained that locating cable faults with a thumper is a slow process.

“One person walks with the thumper and another one next to him with headphones. They have to walk slowly to locate the fault.

“The ring-sub, which is connected to the thumper, continuously sends out signals, and when there is a cable fault, the machine makes a certain sound. They then have to dig a hole in that area to see where the fault is.”

With the recent power outages, the faults could only be located when municipal workers used a third thumper, as the first two machines did not pick up the cable faults.

“Thumping is the last tool after doing multiple tests because, if used too often on the same old cables, it can damage more cables and do more harm than good,” concluded Chamberlain.

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