Watch: Pretoria East experiences mass outage after inferno
Tshwane Metro does not yet know when power will be restored.
A massive fire engulfed the Mooikloof substation in Pretoria last night.
The power outage also triggered a trip at Nyala station, which resulted in Mooikloof, Wapardrand, parts of Moreleta Park, surrounding farms, Pretoria Hospital, Woodhill and Plastic View having no power. It is not yet known when power will be restored.
“An aerial view of the Mooikloof substation, that caught fire last night, [indicates that] a transformer burnt,” says Tshwane Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.
#PowerOutage: PTA East Mooikloof substation has caught fire. Which has triggered a trip at Nyala in-feed station.
This has affected Mooikloof and Wapardrand supply areas.
Our team is investigating, a detailed update will follow pic.twitter.com/JoD8Qgg36f
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) April 18, 2024
According to Tshwane MMC for utilities Themba Fosi, the metro is still evaluating the extent of the damage.
Malcolm De Klerk, the ward 101 councillor, says repairs were due to start this morning.
De Klerk says the fire started at 23:00 and emergency services put it out at 00:52. A 132kv transformer was destroyed in the blaze.
“Several panels within Mooikloof substation were affected.”
He says the fire also affected Wapadrand 132kv overhead lines, but the power is back on in the area.
Emergency services deputy chief Charles Mabaso says Tshwane Emergency Services was notified of the incident at 23:24.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene to find parts of the substation on fire. They immediately commenced with fire exposure protection, [for] the unburnt side, and firefighting.
“The fire was brought under control and extinguished at 00:50. They continued with cooling down operations until 01:46.
“According to electricians on site, the switch gear room suffered extensive damage.”
Mabaso says the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and no injuries were reported.
Mooikloof substation every 3 months https://t.co/PaXRkAT8zL
— Michael (@mickeydedrinker) April 18, 2024
It’s always the Mooikloof Substation
— samir irkov (@skitziebutter) April 18, 2024
Other fires
The fire is one of several that have left hundreds of households without power.
In 2021, a fire burnt key equipment leading to a power outage in several suburbs east of Pretoria.
Why did the Mooikloof substation catch fire 🔥?
Can you tell us please!? ⁉️
💔 💔 💔 https://t.co/YwiaghtJF4— Dr Loot Gous (@lootgous) December 12, 2021
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