Electricians are still on site at the Homevale extension power unit
Work is continuing at the Homevale extension power unit.
Image: Supplied / Sol Plaatje municipality
HOMELITE, Homevale and Homevale extension are still without electricity after a 21-year-old man was found electrocuted when the Homevale extension power unit was vandalised last week.
Residents indicated that all their foodstuffs had perished in the meantime, as several delays were experienced in restoring the power supply over the weekend.
Spokesperson for Sol Plaatje municipality, Thabo Mothibi, said electricians were still on-site.
"Excavations are underway to lay a new medium voltage cable and remove damaged cables from the trench."
He indicated that power was being drawn from the HA Morris substation to the Homevale extension 12th Street mini-substation for the installation process
"We would like to assure residents that an intense all-out effort, emboldened with the requisite expertise, is being undertaken to restore power supply amid the excessive and costly vandalism of the mini-substation last week."
Mothibi added that heavy rains and all-around inclement weather had caused delays in restoring the power supply.
"Your patience is highly appreciated under the prevailing circumstances," he said.
The power supply was momentarily restored on Sunday morning.
Mothibi explained that the electricity, however, only lasted a few minutes due to severe cable damage.
"The extent of the fault revealed multiple weak points along the cable. The technical team conducted several tests and made repeated attempts to restore supply, but the results confirmed that the entire cable between the HA Morris Substation and the 12th Street mini-substation had to be replaced.
"Due to the intensity of the work and team fatigue, operations were temporarily suspended and resumed this morning at 8am. This situation is beyond the technical team’s control. Once the proposed technical strategy is implemented, electrical supply will be restored."
An electrical trip on the feeder supplying power to Homevale, Homevale Extension, and Homelite was also experienced on Sunday.