The City of Tshwane is prioritising the restoration of power to all areas that have been affected since Sunday following the collapse of pylons on the N4 Freeway in Pretoria East.
We understand the frustration of residents and we are working on temporary measures to ensure that we ease the burden of prolonged power outages.
The City is working with internal and Eskom teams to restore electricity in a two-pronged approach. Internally, we are working to backfeed (reroute) our power supply to service-affected areas, where possible, while Eskom teams are working with us to replace the electricity pylons that fell over.
So far, we have made significant progress in restoring power to about 40% to 50% of the areas where the infrastructure is in a good condition and responsive to backfeeding.
I have asked officials to find a way to reconnect as many areas as technically possibly. It is important that we help communities that have been without power for several days, which include Mamelodi, Eersterust, Queenswood, Waltloo Industrial Area and others.
This approach may lead to the implementation of rotational loading in areas that are already connected in Pretoria East. The City will communicate further on this matter when we reach this stage.
I also want to thank the Minister of Electricity, the Honourable Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, for agreeing to meet with the City yesterday afternoon where he committed to support us as we work to restore power to residents.
The Minister further indicated that he would raise the issue of electricity infrastructure security with the Cabinet.
The City welcomes the commitments from the Minister and assistance from Eskom, which has dispatched three teams to assist the City.