Kwa-Thema residents demand power
Simelane added that the one Kwa-Thema Substation transformer which was damaged last was taken in for repairs and will only be returned in August.
Kwa-Thema – Residents took to the streets demanding a permanent solution to their power woes on Wednesday.
This comes after the City of Ekurhuleni promised that power would finally be restored in the area after technicians could temporarily connect to the Van Eck Substation in Brakpan.
Disgruntled residents organised a shutdown and continued to block the main entrances with burning tyres, but those against the protest prevented the shutdown by going head-to-head with the protesters.
The residents haven’t had power since May 11 after a transformer at the Kwa-Thema main substation burned down. On Tuesday, the city introduced load reduction of four-hour intervals between various sections.
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They reconnected parts of the township to the Monareng Substation, while they connected the affected areas to the Van Eck Substation.
Ward 74 Clr Thulani Simelane said the technicians on site are working around the clock to restore power in the affected areas.
“Last Friday, the remaining parts of the township were reconnected but we kept experiencing challenges due to the overloaded capacity at the Van Eck Substation.
“We have also identified the faulty parts of the cables and fixed them. The technicians are running tests and soon as all is cleared, power will restored in the area,” he said.
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Simelane added that the one Kwa-Thema substation transformer which was damaged last year and was taken in for repairs will only be returned in August.
“Until then we will be relying on supply from the nearby substations,” he added.
EMPD spokesperson Lerato Monyane said no one has been arrested but police are on the ground monitoring the situation.
“We are calling for calm in the community and urging residents to avoid violence and vandalising public facilities,” she said.
