State-owned Eskom has confirmed that it is ready to resume with operations to replace failed transformers in Ivory Park, in Johannesburg.
The failing transformers are owing to illegal connections and meter bypasses, which resulted in network overloading, the utility said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement mentioned that Eskom had a schedule and a plan in place that outlined how and when the replacement of failed equipment would be executed. This process, Eskom explained, was consistent with the utility’s operations and applied throughout Gauteng.
Eskom met with Ivory Park councillors, City of Johannesburg officials and the taxi association last week in an effort to enable Eskom technicians to work safely in the area. However, no agreement had been reached on the process to engage the community.
‘We would like to urge the community of Ivory Park to collaborate with Eskom to adequately deal with this matter by allowing us access to the area so that we can conduct audits, remove illegal connections, disconnect bypassed meters and issue fines for the contraventions,” Eskom Gauteng operation unit senior manager Motlhabane Ramashi said.
He explained that the intention of the preceding activities was to avoid a repeat of the damage to the equipment and electricity network.
The community of Ivory Park, surrounding areas, and others in similar conditions in Gauteng were also urged to collaborate with Eskom to ensure supply is restored and paid for.