“We need more eyes” – Kanonkop substation vandalised during load-shedding
Large parts of Kanonkop were powerless on Tuesday evening after thieves vandalised the substation on the corner of Njala and Sipres Street during load-shedding.
The vandals broke into the substation and destroyed circuit breakers with a hammer.
They stripped the substation of copper cabling, leaving the substation severely damaged.
New breakers will have to be assembled and could cost an estimated R400 000 to replace.
DA ward councillors have urged residents in their wards to be extra vigilant during load-shedding periods.
Suspicious activity should be reported to ward councillors, who will then escalate complaints to the necessary law enforcement services.
Residents can also notify their respective radio and CPF groups.
Power was only restored to some areas of Kanonkop by midnight on Tuesday, while others remained in the dark until Wednesday morning.
Aerorand ward councillor Hennie Niemann told www.mobserver.co.za that large parts of Aerorand and Groenkol were also left without electricity on Wednesday evening.
He found a municipal team hard at work at the Sondagsrivier Street Substation, where electricians informed him that the power kept tripping due to excessive overloading on the area’s electricity network.
“We’ve noticed an increase in opportunistic crimes during load-shedding, and ask residents to remain vigilant, we need more eyes,” Mr Niemann told www.mobserver.co.za this morning.
“Apart from keeping a look out for criminals, we also humbly ask residents to switch off non-essentials like geysers during load-shedding, and turn them back on only when power has been fully restored, the overloading of the network often results in ongoing outages, which can be avoided,” Mr Niemann says.
