After enduring a lengthy power outage crisis for the past three months, the community of Macassar has now been removed from Eskom’s load shedding schedule until Sunday 11 November.
This after frustrated residents took to the streets in various protests on Sunday 9 and Monday 10 October, the latter one getting out of hand when angry residents started burning tyres and blocking access to the area after being without electricity for 12 hours or more (“Macassar residents angry”, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 12 October).
Ward 109 councillor Peter Helfrich explained the main reason Macassar was removed from the load shedding schedule is that area had been connected to another cable while the problematic cable is being repaired.
“The voltage on the cable Macassar is connected to is extremely high and, if it had to be turned on and off for load shedding, it would most certainly cause an explosion at one of the transformers,” he explained.
Helfrich met with Eskom officials last week, to discuss the possible replacement of the problematic cable in Macassar Road.
“I have asked Eskom to supply us with these commitments in writing so that I can formally communicate to residents in the next few days,” he said. “The contractor and Eskom have also found each other, and have committed to stop blaming one another for the issues we face and instead work together to find a speedy solution to our problem.”
The good news is that Eskom has appointed a contractor to replace a 300 m stretch of the cable. It will employ about 30 local labourers to assist with the replacement work.
Macassar resident and community leader Waseemah Flaendorp said areas on the outskirts of Macassar, including Kramat and Deep Freeze, had experienced load shedding for the entire week.
“We are very happy about the news that the cable will be replaced,” she realted. “What’s more, outside load shedding hours we haven’t experienced any power outages.”
Helfrich undertook to keep the community informed of the progress as soon as he received Eskom’s commitments in writing.
