The Centlec spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, confirmed to OFM News that there is an emergency power outage at one of their major stations, and it will go beyond the normal two hours of load-shedding. 

In a media statement, the power utility explained that the outage will be from 11:00 to 16:00 on 7 October 2022. It seems there has been vandalism at a critical distribution centre on the 132kV network. “This distribution centre is at risk and emergency work needs to be performed to reduce the risk of further damage to electrical apparatus and infrastructure,” the statement reads. Load-shedding will be stopped and will resume when the grid is back to normal.

The affected areas include:

Brandwag, Tempe Military Base, parts of Langenhoven Park, parts of Heuwelsig, parts of Dan Pienaar, Groenvlei, Woodland Hills, Bayswater, Noordhoek, parts of Waverley, parts of Helicon Heights, Deals Gift, Douglas Valley, Ribbles Dale, parts of Kiepersol, parts of Bays Valley, Arboretum, Rayton, Noord Riool 1 & 2, Pentagon Park, Hillsboro, Hamilton Pump Station, Naval Park, Hilton, Navil Hill (Micro Wave & FM Tower), parts of Noordhoek, parts of Westdene, Cold Chane, New Market, Bram Fischer International Airport, parts of Olive Hill, Transnet & Transwerk, Maselspoort, Vaalbank South, Vallombrosa, Roodewal, Midway, CBD, Pellissier, parts of Fichardtpark, Rosepark Hospital, Bloemdal, Ferreira, Lourier Park, Bloemdal Riool, Vista Park, Fleurdal, Uitsig, Fauna, Genl De Wet, Lengau Pao Test, Kenworth Spar, Bloemanda, Hillside View, JB Mafora, Phahameng, part of Rokclands, part of Bochabela, Hamilton, Namibia Sqkagisanong, Turflaagte, Chris Hani, Freedom Square, Bloemside, Oranjesig, parts of Batho, Central Park, Technikon, Old East End, National Hospital, Pasteur Hospital, Oranje Hospital, Wilgehof, Hospitaal Park, parts of Oranjesig, Show Grounds, parts of Willows, Ehrlich Park, Bergman, Bloemside 6, 9, 10, Grasland (Plots), Khayalitsha, Heidedal, Opkoms, Nuwe Ooseinde, Grasland, Bloemspruit, parts of Shannon, parts of Lakeview, and the Pelonomi Hospital.

At the moment it is unclear if anything was stolen or destroyed at the distribution centre.

This will be at least the third electricity outage apart from load-shedding to be experienced by the city this week. In a message to residents, DA Councillor in ward 44, Selmé Pretorius, says urgent repairs are required to prevent further damage to the grid. 

“We are experiencing a rise in vandalism and damage to all our infrastructure,” she adds. Pretorius also explains that on 14 August 2022, she and Rossouw Botes laid criminal charges in terms of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, at the Park Road Police Station. According to her, there are areas that have been without water for six months due to damage to water pumps and municipal boreholes. “Soutpan (also part of Mangaung's ward 44) has been without water for six weeks as a result of sabotage to the infrastructure. This is very inconvenient for everyone. But I have faith that Centlec is doing their best to resolve the situation,” concludes Pretorius.

This is a developing story.

OFM News