…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
A devastating fire at the Nkabinde substation has plunged the community of KwaThema into darkness and water scarcity.
The substation, responsible for supplying power to the entire district, had been experiencing issues since Sunday, leading to a power outage prior to scheduled load shedding in specific areas.
Impact on Water Supply:
The fire at the substation has had a cascading effect on the water infrastructure in KwaThema.
The booster pump at the KwaThema reservoir has been affected, resulting in low water pressure and exacerbating the water crisis in the area.
Authorities Assessing the Situation:
The City of Ekurhuleni is currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini stated that once the damage is evaluated, they will communicate the estimated time for restoration.
Emergency services have been actively engaged in combating the fire since its early hours, and no casualties have been reported.
Residents in close proximity to the substation have been relocated to ensure their safety from smoke inhalation.
Technicians Working Towards Restoration:
Mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana of the City of Ekurhuleni urges the KwaThema community to cooperate and allow technicians to work on restoring power and water supply as quickly as possible.
The restoration process is vital, considering the interdependence of power and water services.
Affected Communities:
Several areas have been affected by the power and water outage, including Tornado, Phumolo, Deep level, Overline, Highlands, Hostels, Civic Centre, Rest in Peace, Mthembu Village, Vergenoeg, Masimini, and Interland Extensions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
Analysis:
The fire at the Nkabinde substation has caused significant disruption to the lives of KwaThema residents, leaving them without essential services such as electricity and water.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of communities when critical infrastructure is compromised.
The City of Ekurhuleni’s prompt response and ongoing assessment of the damage demonstrate their commitment to restoring services.
However, the extent of the impact and the timeline for recovery remain uncertain.
The affected residents face hardships and inconvenience until power and water services are fully restored.
Such incidents highlight the importance of robust infrastructure maintenance and contingency plans to mitigate the adverse consequences of unforeseen events.