City electrician critical following sub-station explosion

A CITY electrician remains in critical condition after he was injured when the Hercules Street sub-station in Herlear exploded on Monday morning.

Three other engineers are still receiving medical treatment in hospital.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said the municipal manager, Thapelo Matlala, along with senior managers, had paid the employees a visit in hospital and had met with the family of their critically injured colleague.

“Three of our colleagues are out of danger. Two electricians suffered burn wounds to their hands while the third electrician sustained head burn wounds and a possible fractured wrist,” said Mothibi.

He added that the fourth electrician remained in a critical condition.

Mothibi stated that the Department of Labour had completed its assessment at the explosion site in Herlear on Monday.

“The municipality still busy with its internal investigation into what caused the explosion.”

He indicated that electricity had been restored in Herlear during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“A new ring main unit was installed and the faulty cables on the Hercules Street sub-station were also repaired. Intensive cleaning was also undertaken within the sub-station due to the oil spillage.”