Cable damage to main supply for Bedfordview
State-owned power utility Eskom is making progress with repairs to a damaged cable that caused electricity supply interruptions at the Bedfordview substation and expects to fully restore supply by December 4.
Eskom reports that it has started working on the second joint, after successfully completing the first joint of the damaged cable, despite challenges posed by the rain.
The cable had been damaged during an attempted cable theft incident, Eskom had reported on November 30.
Bedfordview ward counsellor Jill Humphreys, meanwhile, told radio station 702 that there were some questions that had to be answered following the incident.
“With cable theft, there is a specific modus operandi where cables are dug up and ripped out. This cable feeds the whole Bedfordview, which begs the question, why is there only one source of power to Bedfordview.
“This particular cable is made with aluminium – it has no value to a potential thief. Why was this cable deliberately damaged to the extent that it affects the entire area?”
She lauded the progress made by Eskom, saying technicians had been on site around the clock to get the repairs done, particularly as it is a painstaking process.