A weekend storm damaged Eskom's electricity infrastructure, leaving towns in the Western Cape without power.
Photo: Richard Newstead/Getty Images
- Power is out in several towns in the Western Cape, and damaged power lines are being repaired.
- A team from the Eastern Cape has arrived in the province to assist with the restoration.
- Full power restoration is not expected until Thursday, February 15th.
A team from the Eastern Cape arrived to assist local Eskom crews in restoring power to several towns in the Western Cape.
On Thursday, Eskom said “major engineering construction teams from both the Eastern and Western Cape” were on site and would be working around the clock to rebuild the damaged infrastructure.
The Karoo towns and surrounding areas of Sutherland, Loggeveld, Laingsburg, Ladysmith, Riew Gamka, Swartburg, Melweville, Majesfontein, Prince Albert and Fraserburgh and surrounding areas were affected by the storm on Saturday, when seven pylons were destroyed. After being defeated, the power is still out.
Eskom said:
Work currently underway includes excavation, erection, and dressing of structures and removal of existing collapsed structures.
The utility estimates that full power will not be restored until Thursday, February 15th.
News24 previously reported that Eskom will need to rebuild more than 2.4km of power lines to restore electricity to Central Karoo towns, installing 26 monopole structures and two strain structures to replace storm-damaged infrastructure. reported that 56 poles would need to be installed.
Special drilling equipment is also required for hard ground.
Eskom has secured an excavator with a 20-tonne jackhammer and a 55-tonne crane, as well as the specialized equipment needed to drill the hole.
Also read | Inside Eskom's plan to restore power to several Western Cape towns
MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredel said work on the collapsed railway line in the Karoo is progressing on schedule, with all key materials, equipment and contractors on site. Ta.
He added that several large generators will be installed at business centers in Laingsburg, Prince Albert and Ladysmith on Thursday.
“These generators will allow us to provide limited power to some of these towns,” he said.
Bledel added that needs assessments are continuing in the affected areas and the state government is coordinating relief donations to vulnerable residents.
