Media statement 19 September 2023
Cllr Themba Fosi
MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations and Coordination
Earlier today, I undertook an oversight visit to Hatherley Substation, which was vandalised yesterday, leading to a power outage in parts of Pretoria East.
Following our assessment, I am pleased to have noted that substantial progress has been made in restoring power to the affected areas. The work completed thus far includes the critical task of panel cleaning, which was necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the substation.
There are still outstanding tasks that need to be addressed to fully restore the power supply to all the affected areas. These include the termination of cable work and pressure testing all feeder cables and bars. These steps are essential to guarantee the reliability and safety of the power supply.
We understand the inconvenience and disruption that this outage caused to residents and businesses in the affected areas. We want to assure the community that we are working tirelessly to expedite the remaining tasks and restore power as soon as possible.
Vandalism of critical infrastructure is not only illegal but also poses serious risks to public safety and the stability of the power grid. We are committed to working closely with law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for this vandalism. We encourage anyone with information about this incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.
In the meantime, we would like to express our gratitude for the patience and understanding demonstrated by the affected community during this challenging time. We also want to extend our appreciation to our dedicated teams and partners who have been working diligently to resolve this situation.
We will continue to provide regular updates on the progress of the restoration efforts. Our top priority remains the swift and safe restoration of power to all the affected areas of Pretoria East.
Enquiries:
MMC Themba Fosi (thembamandlaf@tshwane.gov.za)