By Doreen Mokgolo
Residents of KwaThema have not had a stable electricity supply since its main substation burned down in May last year.
They feel lucky if they go a full week without experiencing power cuts that often last for four days.
After the main transformer burned down, KwaThema was left in the dark for a month before parts of the community were reconnected to the Vulcania South substation in Brakpan as a temporary measure.
On Tuesday, residents spent 24 hours in the dark with the metro blaming the power cut on a cable fault.
Initially, the financially strapped metro promised residents that a transformer which was taken in for repairs would be fitted in July, then September and now February.
Visiting the substation, there is no sign of work on site.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, resident Thuli Makhalisa said the metro is failing the community.
“After the transformer burned down, we were told they would fit in the transformer that had gone for repairs — but nine months later we are still facing electricity challenges.
“A week doesn’t go by without a section of the community being cut off for hours. We have protested over the months but the problem persists,” she said.
A local businessman, Themba Zwane, said his business has taken a hard knock ever since the transformer burned down. He owns a takeaway restaurant in the township.
“We have grown used to load shedding and plan around the schedules but in KwaThema we are also expected to plan for extended power outages.
“When the power goes off, I pray for it to be restored as planned or I will lose all the food I have stocked up for the week’s business,” he said.
Themba said the damage to his business has been so bad that he has had to lay off some of his staff.
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the transformer has been repaired and is awaiting factory acceptance tests.
“Once all the tests have been completed the work to rebuild the substation will get under way,” he said.
Pictured above: The KwaThema main electricity substation.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
