Threat to electricity supply could lead to total blackout

A total blackout, which could affect all of Newcastle today, has nothing to do with non-payment or load-shedding, according communications officer for Newcastle Municipality, Dumisani Thabethe.

The Electrical Department received a call from Eskom this morning, reporting a breakdown that at the Amajuba substation.

“Newcastle Municipality receives its supply via the Ncandu substation (Signal Hill), coming from the Amajuba substation,” explained Dr Thathethe.

Due to the breakdown, Newcastle is currently receiving its supply on one line, instead of two. If the second line is also lost, this will result in a disruption of power to the whole of Newcastle. Eskom has indicated that it will be working on the affected line until 5pm this evening.

“This has nothing to do with Eskom’s intention to switch us off, nor does it have to do with load-shedding. It is purely a maintenance challenge from their side,” assured Dr Thabethe.

Newcastle Municipality has paid the R30 million towards its current monthly account as ordered by Pietermaritzburg High Court judge, Piet Bezuidenhout. Dr Thabethe stated the municipality had actually made payment on October 11, four days before the due date, and he is confident that the next payment, which is due on November 15, will be made on time as well.

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“The mayor is working on a plan to turn the Eskom situation around. If we go for the plan the mayor is pushing for, we will save Newcastle from sitting in the dark,” said Dr Thabethe, expressing confidence in mayor, Dr Nthuthuko Mahlaba’s commitment to pay off the historical debt to Eskom. The final hearing regarding Eskom’s intention to switch off power to Newcastle due to non-payment is scheduled to take place on December 6. The municipality was granted an interim interdict preventing Eskom from switching off power till then.

ALSO READ: Eskom implements Stage 2 loadshedding

While other parts of the country, including major cities like Durban and Johannesburg, were switched off for a few hours every day this week, as a result of Eskom implementing stage 2 load-shedding, Newcastle’s residents, once again, remained switched on.

The installation of ripple relay switches enables Newcastle Municipality to shed the required load by switching off geysers and street-lights, thereby circumventing the need to switch off residents altogether.