Prasa chaos after power cut

COMMUTERS AFFECTED: TRAIN SERVICES SUSPENDED BEFORE R4M ESKOM DEBT IS SETTLED

Power utility cited overdue payment of 34 days of the Western Cape account.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) had paid its debt owed to power utility Eskom after chaos ensued for commuters when the utility cut off the power.

Eskom cut electricity supply to the service in the Western Cape, which affected four of Prasa’s supply line stations.

“Prasa will make a formal announcement on the resumption of the services across the province,” Mbalula said in a statement.

Power was being restored on the Metrorail lines at sub-stations including Khayelitsha, Eesterivier,

Strand and Tafelbaai, he said.

Trains were not able to operate without traction power supply on Thursday afternoon due to the power cut and the suspension of the entire Western Cape rail service. It was reported that the suspension of commuter rail services in the Western Cape affected 289 000 commuters.

“Eskom had cited overdue payment of 34 days of their Western Cape electricity account of R4 million. The action to implement the power cut represented the crisis facing Prasa. It was a matter of public record that Prasa was experiencing a cash flow as a result of a depleted operational budget while a significant amount in excess of R18 billion remains tied in the capital budget,” the minister said.

Eskom’s spokesperson, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, said the utility receiveda proof of payment, which brought Prasa’s account up to date.

Power cut represented the crisis facing Prasa