Residents of Tshwane impacted by recent power outages can expect improvements as Mayor Nasiphi Moya announces a series of initiatives to tackle infrastructure issues and reduce blackouts across the area.
Moya outlined strategic actions to address outages caused by storm-related damage, vandalism, and infrastructure malfunctions, following widespread disruptions.
Many residents expressed frustration over prolonged outages after a severe storm left them without power.
Moya stated that the City will implement these measures to prevent or resolve power failures by prioritising critical network issues, aiming to stabilise the electricity supply. Additionally, the City will expedite its tree-pruning program to help reduce outages.
The mayor noted that damage to overhead infrastructure and interference from tree branches were major contributors to recent power disruptions.
Other causes included 11 kV equipment failure in Pretoria’s CBD, a 132 kV transformer explosion at the Kwagga infeed substation, and damage to the K3 Primary substation in Soshanguve due to airborne debris from nearby settlements.
“Corrugated iron sheets were uprooted from the settlement and flew into the substation, damaging the high voltage lines and associated accessories,” Moya explained.
Illegal connections, particularly in Pretoria West, were also a factor in the outages. To address these issues, the City plans to deploy specialised teams to high-outage areas to reduce response times.
Moya also mentioned plans to secure a security contract aimed at curbing theft and vandalism, particularly in critical infrastructure areas such as substations.
The City further reported that its technicians are currently overwhelmed by the scale of the network repairs following the storm, creating a backlog in restoration efforts.
Affected areas include Pretoria North, Wolmer, Wonderboom, Pyramid, Waltloo, Koedoespoort, Rooiwal, and Soshanguve.
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