UPDATE:
Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, DA councillor, said the cable thieves did not steal the cables from the transformer at Iemas in Secunda.
It was discovered that they actually dug trenches in the middle island between the street lanes near Iemas.
Govan Mbeki Municipality is working on the problem.
HIGHVELD – Electricity supply to various areas in Secunda has been off since early this morning due to cable theft and transformers that exploded.
According to Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, DA Councillor, there were four major electricity issues in town since 3am. The electricity cables at the office complex where Iemas is, were stolen. This is the second time in less than six months that thieves targeted this area.
While the municipality’s work team was toiling with this problem, they received a call that there was an issue at the CBD. A transformer at McDonalds blew up. It was repaired but the switch again blew out. It was later fixed, but then the switch burned and had to be repaired once more. Then they were notified that a transformer exploded at the MegChem building. The fourth issue was a transformer that blew out at Panorama Hostel.
Ms Chamberlain said the reason why the transformers are exploding is that no maintenance is being done. “These transformers operate with very expensive oil that is often stolen, causing the transformers to run dry and explode. There are not enough personnel or money to maintain the transformers on a regular basis.” The power is systematically being restore at the moment.
