ALBERTON – Electricity has to be distributed to the necessary facilities. As yet it is unknown when the disruption was caused, but it most likely occurred on Sunday according to an Ekurhuleni council member.
A suspect or suspects had broken into the main power facility by gaining entry from the small space they had made in the wall of the main substation in Alberton at Du Plessis and Truida streets.
The suspect/s pulled out brass pipes from the number 1 transformer. Councillor Bruna Haipel was there on August 12 to see what was going on.
Cllr Haipel has brought it to the EMM’s attention that the taxi rank should not be near the facility. She has been advocating for years that there should be a taxi rank on another facility, which would have the necessary space for all the taxis.
The number 2 and 3 transformers remain intact and are the only two units functioning at present and electricity is being distributed accordingly to the areas. That means these areas are functioning on two transformers and not the usual three.
According to the EMM official, they are reducing the load on other secondary substations to try and keep the CBD running and then each area can have sufficient electricity.
The power facility is using two transformers. The number 1 transformer is dripping because of oil loss due to the theft and vandalism.
On Tuesday August 12 the contractors appointed were in the process of fixing the transformer.
Councillor Haipel is hopeful that the electricity is restored by later this afternoon (August 12).