Power restored in Fontainebleau

Power was restored to parts of Fontainebleau after residents suffered close to a month of intermittent electricity.

On 16 April, City Power officials were on site at the substation on Gertrude Road to install a new transformer, reinstating power to the area.

The community had to deal with yo-yo electricity for the last month, businesses were affected, homes were left vulnerable and residents not only felt angered by the matter but overlooked too.

Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood said a generator had been put in over the Easter weekend to act as a back-up due to theft at the substation.

The generator did not really alleviate stress, as it had to be replaced a couple of times and, on some occasions, it would run out of diesel.

The age of the substation added to the problem. City Power built a new mini-substation, and they will remove the old electrical parts from the old substation and ultimately knock it down, as the structure would attract displaced people, which could cause more problems.

Wood acknowledged that due to the power outages, residents faced some torrid times, especially over the Easter weekend when family usually visit.

“More importantly, I think people bought food for that weekend which had they had to throw away, and I really am sorry about that.”

He coupled this apology with the suggestion that residents lodge a claim against City Power.

“I am not saying they are going to pay nor am I indulging any responsibility on their part but that is what I think residents must do.”

Wood explained there was a business in the area that had suffered a number of losses due to the matter and said he would approach the business about possibly lodging a claim.

He again apologised to the community and added that the City of Johannesburg is sitting with a backlog of about R170 billion, of which City Power has a big chunk.

“Sadly, this will not be the last of these types of failures. I hope it’s certainly the last in this area, but around the city, we will get these sort of issues,” said Wood.

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