Komani power outage to drag on till Friday
Rain in EL stopped return of repaired transformer
Electricity will be restored by Friday in Komani, Enoch Mgijima mayor Sisisi Tolashe promised on Wednesday.
Parts of Komani have been without power for more than a week, costing businesses hundreds of thousands of rands.
Tolashe and administrator Vuyo Mlokoti told journalists they were working on the outage, which was caused by a transformer and cable that exploded last Tuesday.
“Enoch Mgijima realised that there are challenges with its electricity and developed a master plan to fix the challenges faced by its electricity supply. The master plan needs R200m in order for it to be implemented,” she said, adding that with provincial and national government intervention, they could do it.
“If we can get the R200m we would be able to revamp the total electricity network.”
Tolashe said the cashstrapped municipality would not reimburse residents who lost food items or appliances because of the outage. “We can’t promise them and create an assumption that we are going to reimburse them when we will not do that,” she said.
But she promised that by Friday power would be restored to “all areas in town”.
Mlokoti said they had made some attempts to get help with repairing the transformer.
Buying a new one would cost R7m to R9m and it would take nine to 12 months to deliver.
“Because of the rain in East London we could not get the transformer transported today.
“We cannot risk the transformer getting damaged.
“We are looking at all the entities we approached for assistance but we are sure that on Friday we will be able to get the town’s electricity up,” he said.
Mlokoti reinforced Tolashe’s refusal of requests for the municipality to reimburse people million rands is what the mayor wants from somewhere to fix things who had suffered costs in the blackout. “Businesses have insurance for such cases. But saying this does not mean we are undermining the magnitude of the damage,” he said.
Eskom spokesperson Zama Mpondwana said the power utility provided the municipality with bulk electricity.
“The municipality, however, did seek Eskom assistance with its electricity supply challenges caused by a failed municipal transformer.
“Attempts to acquire a replacement transformer from our side have not materialised.
“However, we continue to look for other possible means to assist the municipality with its transformer repairs,” he said.
On Tuesday, residents said they wanted the national government to intervene in service delivery in Komani.
This came out at a meeting with Tolashe, DA councillor Zuko Mandile and municipal electrical manager Madoda Matola.
Residents also called for Eskom to take over the running of electricity affairs for the municipality.
Khuthele Bovu of Komani Central said municipal bosses had promised to source an electricity transformer last year.
“Please accept that you have failed as a municipality,” he said to applause from about 800 people.
An emotional Anthony Marriott said: “You are throwing money away on useless out of town trips and fancy cars while the rest of us are suffering.”
Sandy Mills, owner of Lukhanji Mall Spar, said: “I have spent R187,000 on diesel for a generator. I have 124 employees. At what point do I close my shop?”
Tolashe said officials from national Treasury were at the municipality to observe and report to the national government for intervention.
She said handing over electricity operations to Eskom was under consideration.
“We have many challenges as the municipality and we don’t have enough money,” she said.