Power crisis hits Komani
Latest outage leaves businesses, residents in the dark – up in arms
AN EXTENDED power outage left Komani residents cold and in the dark after a transformer blew at the Ebden Street substation on Tuesday.
The latest outage, which finally ended in the early hours of Thursday, follows three power cuts in two days last week which Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) spokesman Fundile Feketshane attributed to a system overload.
Tuesday’s explosion at the Ebden Street substation caused panic as the entire town was left without power. A new transformer on the site could not be used as it was leaking oil, sources said. Confusion arose over the power glitch as the entire town should not be affected by one outage, due to the load being shared with the Western sub-station where a transformer exploded in January, resulting in a five-day outage.
Chris Hani District Municipality communications officer Lonwabo Kowa said the municipality had noted the outage with concern and was liaising with EMLM.
“We will be working around the clock to ensure water provision is uninterrupted throughout this period (sic). The municipality will utilise back-up generators which are already operational.
“We, however, would like to alert customers that water pressure will be impacted. This situation further exacerbates the continued water shortage in Komani and we appeal to all communities to use water sparingly.”
By Tuesday afternoon, East London contractors had been roped in after an initial idea to use a transformer from Eskom was abandoned due to red tape.
The contractors left Komani on Tuesday evening to fetch spares and work was under way early on Wednesday morning. said oil in the transformer was affected by water during the extinguishing of the fire and had to be drained.
By Tuesday night, power had been restored to Ezibeleni and Laurie Dashwood Park. Most areas had power by Thursday morning, with only a few sections without.
Twizza CEO Ken Clarke said his business lost R250 000 as a result of the power outage and that it was time the Komani community stood up and worked together to fight against what he said was incompetence in the municipality. “We have had numerous meetings with the municipality and department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, Fikile Xasa, to discuss the matters of this municipality, but nothing fruitful ever came out of those meetings.
“As business people, we have offered our assistance which the municipality has refused and now we are in big trouble.
“The maintenance which is currently being done at sub-stations which blew up will cause catastrophic damage to the whole electrical system.
“In meetings with the municipality last year, we advised them to put aside at least R5-million for the maintenance of the electricity network, but none of that was
‘We are working around the clock to ensure water provision is uninterrupted throughout this period
done. Everything that is happening now could have been avoided, if only the people in power had listened to residents and the people who contribute to the economy of this town.”
DA MP and Enoch Mgijima constituency leader Terri Stander said the damage caused by the explosion needed huge sums of money to repair, which EMLM did not have.
“Circuit insulators also need specialist cleaning which means connection for everyone is that to be fixed and connected to a new transformer which was not commissioned and had an oil leak.” Stander said the poor, elderly and businesses were suffering due to what he claimed was the ANC’s blatantly corrupt ways and that exams were already under way and students needed electricity to study.
Feketshane said in a statement posted on the municipality’s Facebook page on Tuesday, “Please be advised that the circuit-breaker has tripped due to a power over-load. The electrical unit is busy investigating the matter, everyone is urged not to use all electrical appliances at once as they are the main cause.”
The post, which had not been updated by yesterday, has since elicited much criticism from locals who have called on EMLM to indicate when the problem would be fixed and indicating that a lack of maintenance – and not an overload – had been the actual cause of the outage.
Border Kei Chamber of Business executive director Les Holbrook said under trying, frustrating and difficult town’s problems be brought under control. Business is not only prepared to play its part but will put its money where its mouth is, if given the chance.“
Holbrook said BKCOB was urging government to realise that business was fed up with interruptions, outages and endless disruptions to the everyday operations of companies, and the livelihood of employees.
“The challenges could be creation will not come while the town is in such crisis, no matter how the situation is downplayed,” he said, calling for immediate intervention at both local and provincial level.
Top Town resident Ruth Miles said the situation could have been avoided if the municipality did away with sweeping their problems under the carpet, instead of dealing with them head-on. “I should be working, but I am stuck because of the do better if they fixed everything as it happens.”
Mlungisi R-section resident Miriam Ntabeni said the electricity outage happened at the worst time of the year and that there was no one from the municipality who was updating residents about the situation. “Cooking and keeping warm are among the things that frustrate me. It is cold in the morning and the children at home have to wash with lukewarm water.
“No one from the municipality is saying anything about what is happening. We are literally in the dark about everything.”
Westbourne resident Lunga Siyolo said it was unfair for residents who paid for electricity to be without power and to have the municipality blame them for using electricity. “I read what was posted on the municipality’s Facebook page and I am still furious.
“How can a municipality blame its residents for something that is not their fault? It is not our fault that the municipality does not have money to fix its problems. We will use our electrical appliances as we please for as long as we pay for electricity. This municipality’s.