No water, no electricity for Northern Cape towns

THE NORTHERN Cape towns of Hartswater, Pampierstad and Jan Kempdorp were left without water and electricity after the Ganspan sub-station was vandalised on Tuesday.

Phokwane residents had to rely on neighbours with boreholes and solar power to meet their basic needs.

“The Ganspan sub-station was completely stripped,” a local source reported.

Ritchie residents shared that there was not enough water to supply the whole town.

They explained that there was a shortage of water trucks, which had to refill in Kimberley, after the abstraction pump burnt out and was unable to draw water from the Riet River.

“Everyone had to stand in long queues in the heat waiting for water, while many areas did not have access to any water,” they added.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said cable theft at the Ganspan sub-station had resulted in Eskom electricity supply disruptions on November 19 as well as low voltage from the Kimberley distribution centre.

“This caused a reduced water production and supply to the Newton reservoir where only two pumps were in operation,” said Mothibi.

Mothibi stated that the Riverton plant was back to full production in the afternoon while the third pump was put back into operation at the Newton reservoir at around 4.30pm.