Komani residents rally to help support electricity crisis teams

WORKERS frantically trying to restore Komani’s electricity were being kept fed and watered by the community.

Yesterday, 38 technicians were repairing the two damaged sub-stations which blew up on Tuesday, knocking out the entire town.

It was hoped the town’s electricity would be restored last night.

By late yesterday they were trying to test a new transformer vital to getting the power back on.

Chris Hani District Municipality had stepped in to keep drinking water flowing. Businesses in the main Cathcart Road in Komani were mostly shut.

A few generator-powered traders were still operating.

Border-Kei Chamber of Business chairwoman Adre Bartis said the community of Komani had rallied together and donated food, coffee and drinks for the workers.

“The 38 workers were divided into two teams with 18 working in the Ebden Street substation and the other in the Queendustria substation. Now the whole team is working hard at the Ebden Street substation trying to fix the problem tonight. They are testing the Queendustria substation and if things go according to their plan, electricity will be up for the whole of Komani tonight,” she said.

According to Bartis electricity was restored to Ezibeleni and Laurie Dashwood Park on Tuesday night. —