Sparks fly as grid collapses

Update Video

CRADOCK NEWS - After the shocking footage of electrical sparks flying from cables in Michausdal in Cradock, the Eastern Cape Midlands Constituency Leader, MPL Kobus Botha, requested Zolile Williams, Cogta MEC to intervene to safeguard the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) from a total electricity collapse.

Botha says that over the past weeks, the electricity distribution network of the IYLM has been gradually collapsing.

"The inability to provide a stable supply of electricity has compounded residents' suffering caused by Eskom's rolling blackouts. Businesses are losing money while people are losing jobs and throwing away much needed food due to a lack of refrigeration. The electricity crisis has been exacerbated by insufficient budget, aging infrastructure, inadequate spare parts, a lack of correct electrical work tools, and dangerous working conditions for electricians."

According to Botha the municipality's electricity infrastructure is more than 60 years old, and the towns of Cradock and Middelburg are struggling due to aging substations, overhead lines, underground cables and exploding and malfunctioning electrical equipment.

"Recently, residents of Michausdal experienced an electricity outage that lasted three days. Several farmers in Swaershoek and Rooiwal areas have been without electricity for five days. Irrigation plants come to a standstill and have to be reset after every cut-out."

Botha says the main receiving substation transformer in Middelburg has been decommissioned. Due to various delays from the municipality and Eskom, the town has been relying on a mobile generator for the past two months.

Petrus Plaatjies from Michausdal, who supplied the video of the sparks flying, says a meeting was held with the mayor. "We fear for the safety of our children, they play under these lines. The explosions happen any time of the day. Damages to our electrical household equipment cause huge unhappiness."

The Advertiser sent an e-mail inquiry to Mkhululi Mbebe, the municipal manager of the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality and Nonxedo Zonke, the mayor of Cradock, but at the time of going to press no reply had been received.