Fed-up residents are still struggling with regular power outages in spite of lodging numerous complaints with City Power. Wilgeheuwel and Strubens Valley residents are exasperated because it seems that they are suffering more power outages than the other suburbs in Roodepoort.
Various reports suggested that cable theft may be the reason for the constant power outages. City Power‘s spokesperson Yumna Sheik, however, denied this.
“City Power has experienced a power outage in the Roodepoort, Wilgeheuwel, and Strubens Valley areas this week due to the infrastructure being old,” said Sheik. She added that City Power uses oil-filled cables in the area and had to source spares to repair the cables.
“While the repairs were carried out, City Power had to rotate the load and currently the power is fully restored,” said Sheik.
Spokesperson for the Honeydew Police, Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs said the police did not receive many reports of power outages due to cable theft, but she is aware that City Power is busy with maintenance on certain parts of the cables. “It is a catch-22 situation, it could be cable theft or maintenance,” said Jacobs.
Ward 97 Councillor, Jaco Engelbrecht said that he is in constant contact with City Power.
“We have a problem in the Metro Boulevard where thieves dig to steal cables. The bushes and long grass make it easy for cable theft to take place,” said Engelbrecht. He added that City Power recently repaired sections of the cable in this area after cable theft took place.
Engelbrecht explained that it takes a very long time for the power to be restored if cables need to be repaired after cable theft. “I am busy working with Gautrans to get them to clean up after the repair,” he said.
The West Rand contact for City Power who deals with cable theft, could not be reached before the newspaper went to press.
Details: City Power, 011 490 7000.
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