BY: PRUDENCE NHAVINGO
On April 10th, a fire erupted at the Raslouw substation, leaving surrounding areas without power following heavy rainfall that damaged parts of Pretoria. Affected areas include Raslouw, Sunderland Ridge industrial area, and Lekkerhoekie. In response, the City of Tshwane issued a statement regarding power restoration in affected communities.
The Tshwane Emergency Service Department (ESD) successfully extinguished the fire at the Raslouw 132 (11kV) substation, which caused widespread power outages. Initial investigations suggest that the fire resulted from a short circuit caused by rats chewing through wires inside the panels.
Further assessments by technical team identified a faulty cable leading to the Sunderland Ridge sewer treatment plants. After thorough testing, power has been restored to Raslouw, Monavoni, Heuweisig, and Celtisdal. Unfortunately, during this process, one of the 11kV breakers at the substation caught fire, leading to its disconnection.
“We commend our team for their prompt action in responding to the fire outbreak, ensuring minimal damage and swift restoration effort. The team will be working tirelessly through the night to ensure that power is restored to the affected area. And we understand the inconvenience that this outage may cause to residents and business in the affected areas, we assure you that every effort is being made to speed up the restoration process,” said MMC Themba Fosi.
While acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the outage, the City of Tshwane urges residents to be patient and cooperate with technical teams as they manage the situation. Regular updates will be provided as the situation develops.