Eskom sub-station boom

The power giant invested R33 million in new infrastructure at the Fourways sub-station based in Broadacres which services Broadacres, Chartwell, Dainfern, parts of Jukskei Park and Fourways.

Tom Venter, Member of Phakeme independent contractor, stationed at the Sanparks sub-station site in Sandton, explained that most of the parts are especially for Eskom.
Venter said Sanparks has added a third energy source to ensure central Sandton’s power supply is adequate.

The Paulshof sub-station received more than R33 million in upgrades which are 85 percent complete and should be finalised by the end of October. This sub-station services Paulshof and Lonehill, with Sunninghill’s Megawatt Park servicing Sunninghill, and Waterfall Estates to Waterval.

The sub-stations are linked to help each other in case of emergencies with a backfeed of energy. The new system will also ensure that broken links can easily be located and fixed.
Eskom’s capital executive manager Brian Maseko explained that the growth of malls, complexes and residential estates in the area placed a large demand on the power supply.

Andre Greyvenstein, senior supervisor for Fourways customer network centre (technical services) said, “We work on the expectations of the area but have prepared for the maximum power demand from the area.”
Greyvenstein added that it was critical for Eskom to upgrade the infrastructure, which is safer for the staff and more reliable.

The number of complexes in the area put a strain on the power supply but vandalism and theft, such as draining the oil used for insulation and stealing copper cables, remains high in the Fourways and Sandton area, especially in Marlboro.

Corporate affairs manager for Gauteng, Reneiloe Semenya, said that the upgrades also had a positive affect on job creation not only for people employed by Eskom but in the manufacturing sector too.