A power substation that is being built by Msukaligwa Municipality in Ext 33 is not yet being used and Ext 32, 33 and 34 (SunCity) are experiencing regular power outages.
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The building of the substation, a project of the municipality, began in 2016.
When the Highvelder visited this substation, it was locked and nobody was on the site.
According to the Msukaligwa Municipal spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, the municipality is solely responsible for the substation.
“The project is a multi-year project that is built in phases,” he said.
Mr Zwane further added the 2017/18 financial year is the last phase, which means the substation will be commissioned at the end of June.
He said the substation cost R34 million to build and will link to the 88 kilovolt substation in Nomndeni (Autumn Ridge).
It will be a welcome relief for Ext 32, 33 and 34 (SunCity) residents.
One resident lamented the situation, saying the municipality must use the substation to assist the community of SunCity, as sharing the power supply results in regular power cuts.
When queried about where SunCity receives its power supply from, Mr Zwane confirmed that SunCity is currently supplied by the 88 kilovolt substation at Nomndeni, while Nyibe is privately owned land and is supplied by Eskom.
Mr Zwane concluded by saying the substation in Ext 33 will deload about 25 per cent of the load of the existing substation at Nomndeni.
“It will cater for future developments in the southern part of Ermelo,” he said.
