City invests in high-tech machine to tackle cable faults

The City of uMhlathuze Electrical and Energy Department received delivery of a brand-new ‘thumper’, a cable fault-finding machine today (Thursday).

This major investment is expected to improve service delivery to residents amid ongoing electricity cable faults affecting various areas.

Taking to social media to talk about the delivery, Deputy Mayor Christo Botha said this highly specialised piece of equipment is custom-fabricated on order from a German-based supplier.

“It is not something that can simply be purchased off the shelf, and at a cost of over R2-million, it represents a significant commitment to strengthening our electricity network infrastructure,” said Botha.

He noted that the city maintains more than 3 200km of 11kV underground cables.

“When faults occur, locating the exact point of failure is often a complex and time-consuming process. This new machine will greatly enhance our ability to accurately pinpoint faults, reduce downtime, and restore power to affected areas more efficiently.

“Investing in the right tools enables us to deliver faster, more reliable services to the people of uMhlathuze,” said Botha.

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