Ext 3 residents protest over power cuts
Since power was restored in Kwa-Thema three weeks ago, the section has experienced up to seven hours of power shedding daily.
Kwa-Thema – The residents of Ext 3 blocked the area’s main streets to demand power restoration.
They blocked Mojela and Tonk Meter roads with burning tyres and rocks. The section has been without power since Saturday night.
Since power was restored in Kwa-Thema three weeks ago, the section as experienced up to seven hours of power shedding.
In various updates to the community, Ward 77 Clr Thulane Dunjana blamed the extended power cuts on overloaded capacity.
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Dunjana said though the technicians had removed Ext 2 and Selcourt Estate from the cable they shared, Ext 3 still experienced overloading.
“We urge residents to use power sparingly,” he added.
He also indicated that municipal technicians could not restore power after 19:00 because they would not get paid for overtime.
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This situation left the community dark until the technicians reported for work at 07:00 the next day.
Resident Martha Mthombeni said once the power was restored, they were told that load reduction would rotate between all the sections connected to the Vulcania substation.
“That was not the case. Only Exts 2 and 3 get left in the dark at night.
“We are tired of living like this. It is cold, and our electrical appliances suffered damage because of this, yet we get no straight answers,” she added.
